MOLONEY TWINS DEMOLISH THEIR RESPECTIVE TANZANIAN FOES
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Oct 2017
Jason "The Smooth One" Moloney 15-0 (12 KOs) of Australia destroyed Julias Kisarawe 27-5-1 (14 KOs) in the very first round to win the vacant WBA Oceania bantamweight title at the Melbourne Park Function Centre in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday night. A powerful right hand exploded on the Tanzanian's chin and the fight was halted at 2:58. It was Jason's first fight at the bantamweight division. It was the fourth fight this year for Jason and his twin brother Andrew.
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"I want to give a big thanks to my trainer Angelo Hyder for that one," says Jason on his killer punch. "We have worked on that punch for hours in the gym and to pull it off here tonight makes me very happy." Next year they are targeting the top. "We want the world title eliminators and the world title shots," says Jason, who is ranked No. 8 bantamweight by the WBA. "Whatever my team wants me to do, I'll be ready to go. I'll be back in the gym next week. Whenever the opportunity comes, we will be ready."
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Earlier, Andrew "The Monster" Moloney 15-0 (10 KOs) scored a fourth round knockout of Tanzania?s Hashimu Zuberi 13-2 (3 KOs) to become the first Australian boxer to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal and a professional Commonwealth boxing title. Andrew hit Zuberi with a thundering right cross late in the second round that knocked him down. He finished the fight when he battered the African visitor prompting the referee to stop it at 2:03 of round four.
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"Both of these belts mean a lot to me," says Andrew, who defended his WBA Oceania super flyweight title as well as claiming the coveted Commonwealth strap. "I believe I'm the first Australian to win Commonwealth titles in the amateurs and pros." Andrew, rated No. 6 by the WBA, also praised his foe as a tough fighter. "He was a tough opponent and that's exactly what we wanted. Tougher and tougher opponents so that I'm ready when I get a shot at that world title."
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WBA and WBC welterweight champion Keith ?One Time? Thurman is undefeated with 28-0 and 22 wins by knockout. However, Thurman?s place in the pound-for-pound list varies from No. 5 by ESPN to not being ranked by Ring Magazine. He is unbeaten and was victorious over Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter in his last two outings. According to Andreas Hale of BoxingScene, "the real issue is not Keith Thurman?s ability for not being rated...but more with his lack of activity."
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Hale added that ?One Time? has lived up to his name. "But not the way he coined the moniker. Instead of needing to only hit his opponents 'One Time' before they hit the canvas, Thurman now only fights 'One Time' a year...Unfortunately, when you?re away from the ring, people go with what?s right now instead of what?s always been there. And Keith Thurman, for all he has accomplished, is on the outside looking in despite being the current king of the 147 pounders."
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Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) discussed his October 28 heavyweight title match against Carlos Takam (35-3-1, 27 KOs) from Cameroon, a late replacement for Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria who cancelled his fight with a shoulder injury. The WBA Super and IBF champion has undergone a lengthy training camp ahead of his next title defense in Cardiff. ?I feel like Takam, to have his kind of style, not many people who fight that way have long careers. He eats up a little bit of ground each round.?
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?The thing you can?t be taught is how to survive in the trenches," added Joshua. ?My heart is very big and I wear it on my sleeve in this sport.? He talked about WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. ?Deontay Wilder is a heavyweight, he?s a champion, he?s winning and that?s enough. In a career, it?s all good going undefeated and looking good, but Wilder hasn?t had any memorable fights. He needs a real remarkable fight to stamp his name in the book of heavyweight boxing.?
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The World Boxing Association Championship Committee has ordered Mexicans WBA "Super" featherweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz, and WBA regular featherweight champion Abner Mares, to negotiate their upcoming bout before November 6. Both boxers were scheduled to fight last April 3. But on August 22, Santa Cruz and Mares requested special permits to make voluntary defenses, which the WBA granted.
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On October 14 they faced and won over Chris Avalos and Andres Gutierrez, respectively. The Committee then gave them until November 6 to negotiate their bout. Santa Cruz and Mares should send details such as the date and place within the deadline or else the WBA would issue a call for purse bid. The WBA is working to unify champions of each weight division and this unification bout between Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares would be a major step toward that goal.
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Golden State Warriors pillars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were ejected in their 111-101 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Less than a minute to go, Curry who scored 37 points, drew a contact, but no foul was called. Curry angrily threw his mouthpiece towards referee Scott Wall and was evicted from the game. Durant went over to Wall, complained and was also being ejected. When Durant went out of the court, he flashed his ring finger to fans showing he is an NBA champion. After the game, Golden State is 1-2.
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The welterweight division is now considered the toughest weight class in boxing. Henry Armstrong holds the record for the most consecutive title defenses at this division, with 19 defenses of the lineal title. Felix Trinidad is the longest reigning welterweight champion spanning 6 years, 8 months, 14 days as IBF world champion with 15 successful title defenses. Completing the top 10 are Antonio Margarito, Jose Napoles, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pernell Whitaker, Pipino Cuevas, Sugar Ray Robinson, Donald Curry, Jack Britton and Mickey Walker.
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The authoritative Ring current rankings in the welterweight division:
1. Keith Thurman 28?0 (22 KOs) WBA, WBC champion
2. Errol Spence 22?0 (19 KOs) IBF champion
3. Shawn Porter 27?2?1 (17 KOs)
4. Kell Brook 36?2 (25 KOs)
5. Danny Garcia 33?1 (19 KOs)
6. Lamont Peterson 35?3?1 (17 KOs)
7. Lucas Matthysse 38?4 (35 KOs)
8. Jeff Horn 17?0?1 (11 KOs) WBO champion
9. Manny Pacquiao 59?7?2 (38 KOs)
10. Jessie Vargas 27?2 (10 KOs)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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