It's Dangerous for Jason Moloney To Look Past Japanese Challenger
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 Mar 2024
Jason Moloney has accepted to fight, a defense of his WBO title, underneath Naoya Inoue's defense of his undisputed super bantamweight championship against Mexican Luis Nery this May 6, 2024.
His reason is that he can't pass up on the chance to fight in what he described as a huge, high profile promotion starring Inoue, arguably the world's best fighter to be held at spacious Tokyo Dome. The fight card which will also feature two all- Japanese world title fights is jointly promoted by Top Rank, Teiken and Ohashi promotions.
Jason however seems to look past his Japanese challenger Yoshiki Takei as he is targeting to figure in a big promotion back in Australia featuring George Kambosos if he succeed in beating Vasily Lomachenko or Sam Goodman who wants to bring Inoue Down Under in his own challenge of the Japanese Monster.
Jason likewise seems to underestimate Takei given his ring record of just eight wins in eight bouts. In spite of the fact that all his wins have come by KO or TKO, Moloney seems unfazed saying that he knows how to handle his Japanese challenger.
But it is dangerous for Moloney to have such mindset.
It may be true Takei is a former mixed martial arts fighter who has transitioned to boxing and has seen action in only so many bouts.
But in a recent feature, The Best 5 Countries in Boxing, the writer pointed to the Japanese proficiency in jiujitsu and mixed martial arts as the reason for their recent improvement in boxing especially in the areas of speed and accuracy.
The insinuation is that there may now be some cross training in MMA and jiujitsu or at least practical adaption in the development of Japanese boxers.
I have seen kickboxing bouts on ONE where Japanese fighters used their boxing skills more in beating their adversaries, including a Thai who was supposedly better in the sport.
One thing going for Takei is that he has been fighting at the heavier super bantamweight and will be going down to challenge Moloney for his bantamweight crown.
Based on his record, Takei has kayoed some named adversaries at 122 lbs as Pete Apolinar, Bruno Tarimo and Ronnie Baldonado and that should be a red flag for Jason Moloney not to look past his challenger.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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