Australian Jason Moloney captured his first world title on Saturday in California with a decision by the judges against Filipino Vincent Astrolabio for the vacant WBO bantamweight crown.
The 32-year-old boxer, from Melbourne, prevailed 115-113 and 116-112, while the third judge signaled a 114-114 draw at the end of the bout, which was held in Stockton.
Moloney’s record is 26 wins for two losses: his only two career losses came in world title fights against Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodríguez in 2018 and Japan’s Naoya Inoue in 2020.
Astrolabio, 26, suffered his fourth loss in 18 wins.
On the same night, WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly of Kazakh defeated Canadian Steven Butler, by stoppage in the second round, in what was the first defense of his crown.
The Kazakh then asked for future fights with American Jermall Charlo, undefeated WBC middleweight champion, or Mexican Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, undisputed super middleweight champion. “Boxing champions and superstars, where are you?” Alimkhanuly joked. “Canelo and Charlo, I’m going. I’m ready to fight anybody, anytime, anywhere,” said Alimkhanuly, who turned 30 last month and has a record 14 wins, including nine KOs.
Source: La Verdad
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