Australia’s Jason Moloney has misplaced his WBO bantamweight world title in irritating vogue on the Tokyo Dome, falling to native hope Yoshiki Takei through unanimous choice.
Meanwhile fellow Aussie Sam Goodman known as out Japan’s Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue after the hometown hero copped his first ever knockdown in the opening spherical towards Mexico’s Luiz Nery.
Defending the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring tremendous bantamweight world titles Inoue got here in an enormous favorite and was all of the sudden in hazard.
But he bounced again with a second-round knockdown of Nery and shortly took over together with his brutal punches ensuing in one other knockdown in the fifth, after which the KO in the sixth.
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After Inoue spoke to the gang the unbeaten Goodman entered the ring contained in the sold-out, 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome and emerged because the Japanese’s subsequent opponent.
“Either give up the belts, or fight me, let’s get it on,” Goodman mentioned.
Goodman is the IBF obligatory challenger. Inoue mentioned the battle may happen in September.
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Earlier in his ninth professional battle the previous kickboxer Takei proved too good for the 33-year-old Moloney, profitable 116-111 x2 and 117-110 on the playing cards.
It was Moloney’s second world title defence after profitable it from Vincent Astrolabio in May 2023, then beating Saul Sanchez this previous January.
ESPN commentator Joe Tessitore mentioned as Moloney walked to the ring: “He’s defending this title like his life depends on it”.
Moloney was the lucky beneficiary of an early level deduction for Takei after three low pictures in the opening two rounds, although the third gave the impression to be on the belt.
But in any other case the Japanese former kickboxer was in management of the battle, arguably profitable the primary 4 rounds because of a bonus on the skin, although the Aussie improved in the fourth.
“There’s gonna have to be a shift in the game plan of Moloney,” the US analyst mentioned on commentary.
Through six rounds Takei had landed 90 punches to 46, with 19 of Moloney’s landed punches coming in the sixth as he desperately tried to interrupt by means of the contender’s defence.
Moloney’s coaches could possibly be heard “begging” him to point out extra through the seventh, which he did.
Arguably by means of eight rounds it was 5 rounds to 3 Takei’s means, however he needed to cope with the purpose deduction too.
Moloney proved unable to drive Takei right into a harmful state of affairs and whereas he had an enormous twelfth spherical – 71 punches, 29 landed, 26 of them energy punches – the ultimate bell saved the house favorite.
The ESPN analyst declared Moloney was “outgunned” by “a far superior boxer”.
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FULL FIGHT CARD
Naoya Inoue (c) def Luis Nery through KO in Round 6 to retain the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring tremendous bantamweight world titles
Yoshiki Takei def Jason Moloney (c) through UD, 117-110 and 116-111 x2 to win the WBO bantamweight world title
Takuma Inoue (c) def Sho Ishida through UD to retain the WBA bantamweight world title
Seigo Yuri Akui (c) def Taku Kuwahara through UD to retain the WBA flyweight world title
TJ Doheny def Bryl Bayogos through TKO in Round 4