Naoya Inoue Archives - Moloney vs Franco Live

Plans are in the works for Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue to defend his unified bantamweight world title against Jason Moloney on Oct. 31 in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card in Las Vegas, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told BoxingScene on Monday.

“We are working on that,” Arum said. “It would be ‘The Monster’ fighting Moloney on Halloween.”

The fight would take place inside the bubble of the conference center at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where all of Top Rank’s cards have been taking place since it began to put fights on again during the coronavirus pandemic in June without spectators.

Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs), 27, who signed with Top Rank last November, was supposed to have his debut for the company (and his second fight in the United States) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on April 25 in an ESPN main event. He was scheduled to face John Riel Casimero in a three-belt title unification fight. However, the card was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic. Moloney was supposed to fight Joshua Greer in the co-feature of the April 25 card.

While the 29-year-old Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs), of Australia, returned on June 25 inside the bubble and stopped Leonard Baez in the seventh round, Inoue has been out of action since winning a unanimous decision against Nonito Donaire in a thrilling title unification fight in the final of the eight-man World Boxing Super Series tournament on Nov. 7 in Saitama, Japan. The fight was selected 2019 fight of the year by several media outlets as well as the Boxing Writers Association of America.

While Moloney, who suffered his only loss by split decision to Emmanuel Rodriguez in a bantamweight world title fight in the World Boxing Super Series quarterfinals in October 2018 in Orlando, Florida, was able to travel from his home country of Australia to fight in June, Inoue had issues getting his visa because of a logjam of requests.

But Arum said the pound-for-pound ranked Inoue, who has won world titles at junior flyweight, junior bantamweight and bantamweight, has secured a visa and should soon be headed to the United States.

“The visa problem is OK now,” Arum said. “He has the visa and he had his interview and everything.”

Whether or not the fight will actually take place Oct. 31 will depend largely on Inoue’s Japanese broadcaster, Arum said.

American journalist Steve Kim has labelled Moloney’s second attempt at world title honours against divisional leader Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) among the 10 best fights to be made for the remainder of the calendar year.

“Inoue isn’t just the premiere bantamweight in the world, but one of the very best fighters pound-for-pound,” wrote Kim in an article originally published on ESPN.

“He’s a dynamic offensive machine, and despite having just 16 fights on his record, Inoue has one of the best résumés in boxing.”

Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs), who has won four consecutive fights since a razor-thin decision loss to then IBF titleholder Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2018, is a beneficiary of the global pandemic, after WBO champion John Riel Casimero rejected a reduced purse to face lineal and IBF/WBA ruler Inoue.

Although the Tokyo-based superstar will enter the fight as a firm favourite in the betting markets, Kim has praised the ability of the hard-hitting Australian, citing his potential as a capable underdog.

Since securing mandatory status for WBO titleholder John Riel Casimero, Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs) and promoter Top Rank have expressed interest in a potential September clash. However, discussions surrounding a mooted title unification between Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs) and divisional ruler Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) have taken precedence.

But with the Filipino refusing to take a reduced purse in light of the global pandemic, Moloney is now in the box seat to secure a salivating match-up with Japanese knockout artist and unified IBF/WBA champion Inoue.

“Inoue has an appointment next week at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo, it is an interview process,” promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.

Naoya Inoue vs. Jason Moloney in Play For October 31

Jason Moloney in box seat for Naoya Inoue ” Dream Fight “