Jason Moloney on staying active, earning his world rating and more

IT only takes one look at Jason Moloney’s fledgling record to know that he means business.

 

In just nine appearances, the Croydon-based pocket dynamo has risen to the top of super bantamweight division, earning a regional strap – and an impressive world rating – all while he continues to develop and learn his craft.

 

Fresh off a career-best win over regarded Filipino prospect Jeffrey Francisco in August, Moloney (9-0, 8 KOs) aims to continue his rich vein of form against durable import Gerpaul Valero at the Melbourne Park Function Centre.

 

“I have been trying to get the rounds in,” said Moloney to Aus-Boxing. “My last fight was exactly what I needed,”

 

“I’m not going to ever go easy on an opponent just to try and get rounds in, I’ve been trying to step it up with opponents every fight. We knew Jeffrey Francisco was going to be tough and that was exactly what he was.”

 

“He took me the whole six rounds – I was wrapped with the fight – and how it went,” he added.

 

“Those six rounds are going to be really valuable come this Saturday night against Gerpaul Valero.”

 

After enduring a frustrating 2015 campaign, which saw the 25-year-old fight just three times, Moloney is happy to be in the midst of a busy spell which has seen the fleet-footed Melburnian compete four times since March.

 

“This is my fifth fight coming up and we are looking to finish the year off with six fights,” he explained. “That’s twice as many as I had last year. So it’s been a great year and I think I’m coming along pretty nicely,”

 

“My last fight being taken the distance is really what I needed,” he continued. “Next year we will be looking to have some pretty tough fights – and really test myself – to see where I’m at,”

 

“In terms of how I’m progressing, I feel like I’m right on track. The aim next year is to get the tough fights in and the year after that look for some really big names and hopefully land a title shot of some sort.”

 

Despite being in the paid ranks for just over two years, Moloney is continuing to look at home with each fight. Although he has come from a strong amateur background alongside Andrew, his equally capable brother; Moloney believes he has always been better suited to the professionals.

“I just love it, I’ve always had such a great interest in professional boxing,” he admits. “Even in the amateurs – I used to watch the professional fighters a lot more – now I’m actually involved in it, I am loving it.”

 

“The longer fight distances suit me. In the amateurs, I’d be getting on top of blokes in the third round and the fight would be over. Now I have time to make the most of training hard and reap the benefits of it a bit more,”

 

Saturday night will mark the second defence of Moloney’s WBA Oceania super bantamweight title. The importance of not only a win, but keeping his WBA affiliated regional title is not lost on the world rated Moloney.

 

“I’m ranked number fourteen by the WBA now, that’s why I’m holding onto this belt and defending it as much as possible. I want to keep trying to move up the ratings. Hopefully not before long you’ll see my name at the top.”

 

Jason and his brother Andrew recently inked a promotional contract with Victorian-based entity Hosking Promotions. Moloney believes the move to Lynden Hosking has brought an already tight-knit team even closer.

 

“I’ve always had a great relationship with Lynden,” said Moloney of his relationship with his new promoter.

 

“From last year, we hadn’t really been aligned to any particular promoters, we have just taken whatever opportunities have come our way. Now at this stage we want and need to have a bit more of a set schedule.”

 

“Now we have teamed up with Lynden, we can now sit down and map out five fight dates next year and be in a bit more control. Having someone like Lynden there, he has our best interest at heart; he is easy to work with.”

 

Moloney is under no illusions that Valero, who is eight fights shy of a half century, will provide some stylistic issues for him. And has Moloney’s past fights have shown, he isn’t scared of a willing opponent.

 

“I’ve had some issues with an opponent,” he concluded. “We had a few fighters pull out and struggled to lock one in early, but we have locked Gerpaul Valero in. I have watched a few of his fights and he is tough,”

 

“Similar to my last opponent, Valero has been in there with some good fighters. I just watched his fight with Tassana Sanpattan and he went the ten rounds with him and gave an accomplished fighter a good hard fight.”

 

“If all goes to plan I’ll get the victory come Saturday night. But I’m expecting a good test and valuable rounds.”

 

 

Photo: Justin Gan/East End Boxing