Andrew Moloney says he will be thinking about his vanquished twin brother when he steps into the ring and attempts to win a world title back for Team Moloney on Sunday.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Jason Moloney lost his WBO bantamweight title in heartbreaking fashion on Monday when he couldn't finish off Yoshiki Takei in Japan.
Takei was on the ropes and battling for survival when the final bell rang, with the Japanese fighter winning the bout by unanimous decision.
The result left Australia without a current male world boxing champion.
That could all change on Sunday when Australian George Kambosos faces off against Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko for the IBF lightweight world title at Perth's RAC Arena.
On the undercard, Andrew Moloney will take on Mexico's Pedro Guevara for the vacant WBC interim super flyweight belt.
Jason Moloney has flown from Tokyo to Perth to witness his brother's fight, and Andrew is determined to make him proud.
"I certainly feel like I need to get one back for our team and our family," Andrew said.
"Jason actually fought two days after I lost my world title years ago and I believe he put on the best performance of his career, because he had that to prove and something to get back for us.
"That's how I feel like I am for this Sunday.
"I'm going out there to really make a statement and put on an explosive performance and get one back for our team."
Andrew Moloney lost his WBA super-flyweight world-title to Texan Joshua Franco in 2020.
The 30-year-old Australian has been hungry to regain his world champion status ever since, but it hasn't been easy.
"It's been a long, hard journey - four years since I lost my world title," Moloney said.
"A lot of blood, sweat and tears to get back to this point.
"And that's why it's going to feel so special on Sunday to finally be world champion again."
Carlos Cuadras was initially slated to fight Moloney in Perth, but a ruptured Achilles tendon scuppered those plans.
Guevara, a former WBC light flyweight world champion, was called in to replace Cuadras and the stakes couldn't be higher.
"There's a lot riding on this fight for both of us. This is probably both of our last attempts at a world title if we fall short," Moloney said.
"I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to become world champion again on home soil.
"In terms of the adjustments for the fight, luckily we had a lot of notice.
"Their styles aren't too dissimilar.
"They're both orthodox, both Mexican warriors, both former world champions with a lot of experience, so not much has changed.
"I was very familiar with (Guevara's) style, so it was very easy to adjust and prepare for him the day we found out."
Australian Associated Press
