SPORTSCLOPEDIA 22: WBC ORDERS NONITO DONAIRE FIGHT AGAINST JASON MOLONEY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 28 Jan 2023
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered Nonito Donaire and Jason Moloney to fight for the vacant bantamweight title more than two months after announcing the match-up during its annual convention last November held in Acapulco, Mexico. The fight was then ordered over last weekend and the two camps were given until February 17 to agree on the terms and avoid a purse bid hearing.
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Donaire is managed by his wife, Rachel, and is promoted by Richard Schaefer of Ringstar Sports. Moloney fights under Top Rank of Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
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During their last convention, the WBC approved the Donaire and Moloney fight when Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) would vacate his unified belts to move up to junior featherweight. The undefeated three-weight world titlist campaigned at the bantamweight category for more than four years to become the division’s first undisputed champion in fifty years and the first Asian undisputed champion in any division during the three or four-belt times.
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Moloney and Donaire were named as the top two WBC bantamweight contenders during the governing body’s convention, and it was agreed that the mandatory fight would be on a 50-50 split if a purse bid hearing would eventually result.
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The 32-year-old Moloney (25-2, 19 KOs) of Kingscliff, New South Wales, Australia, was defeated only during title fights. He lost a split decision to Emmanuel Rodriguez in their October 20, 2018 vacant title fight between unbeaten contenders, as part of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) bantamweight tournament eventually won by Inoue.
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Moloney’s second title bid resulted in a seventh-round knockout to Inoue for the WBO, was scheduled to challenge the reigning WBA (Super), IBF and The Ring bantamweight championship in October 31, 2020 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
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Moloney was the replacement for the WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero, who withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inoue first knocked Moloney down with a counter left hook in the sixth round, although he was able to recover from it. Moloney was once again knocked down in the seventh round, with a short right hook, and he failed to beat the count.
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Moloney went on to seize four straight wins. In his latest outing, he defeated Nawaphon Kaikanha of Thailand by unanimous decision in their WBC title eliminator last October 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.
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Donaire (42-7, 28 KOs), born in Talibon, Bohol and now living in Las Vegas, last fought with a second-round knockout loss to Inoue last June 7 at Saitama (Japan) Super Arena.
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In their November 7, 2019 Fight of the Year, Inoue outpointed by unanimous decision Donaire to defend his IBF bantamweight title and win the WBA "Super" bantamweight championship in the WBSS tournament. Donaire came back to win the WBC title in a May 29, 2021 fourth-round knockout of previously undefeated Nordine Oubaali, breaking the record has himself established as the oldest fighter to win a bantamweight title.
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Donaire defended his belt with a fourth-round knockout of previously undefeated countryman Reymart Gaballo in December 11, 2021. He upgraded his status as a champion for a high-profile three-title showdown with Inoue but failed to bring home the bacon.
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Donaire is already a legend but he did not cease from competing active boxing and the WBC placed him second in its bantamweight contenders. Moloney is the top contender having won a title eliminator against Nawaphon Kaikanha to earn the number one position.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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