Andrew Moloney: I'm Grateful To Top Rank For Putting Me In Position To Win Back My Title
Nov 14, 2020 • 4:03 PM ET
Somewhere between suffering the first loss of his career and recovering from two perforated eardrums in said defeat, Andrew Moloney couldn’t help but wonder his next move.
Sure, the recently dethroned secondary junior bantamweight titlist was armed with a rematch clause versus Joshua Franco (17-1-2, 8KOs) in efforts to reclaim what was once his. The question was whether his support system would remain intact, or if he would be forced to seek revenge with limited resources.
A more reassuring response could not have come of the development.
“It was massively important for my career to get this rematch,” Moloney (21-1, 14KOs) told BoxingScene.com ahead of his second fight with Franco, which takes place Saturday evening live on ESPN from The Bubble at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “I’m really grateful to Top Rank for putting me in this position to win back my title.”
The loss came as part of the first-ever pro fight in the United States for Australia’s Moloney, who headed stateside along with twin brother and current bantamweight contender Jason Moloney (21-2, 17KOs). The pair fought on separate ESPN headliners from The Bubble two nights apart this past June.
Andrew’s U.S. and network debut resulted in the lone defeat of his career, fighting through two busted eardrums for more than six rounds and suffering a late knockdown versus San Antonio’s Franco. Jason claimed a stoppage win two nights later, setting up a shot at reigning unbeaten and unified bantamweight titlist Nayoa Inoue in which he suffered a 7th round stoppage.
As for Andrew Moloney, the focus has always remained on getting back his old title. Delivering the fight was never of concern to Top Rank, who not only made it happen but sought the best possible platform on which to present the bout.
The second fight with Franco will serve as the chief support to a primetime telecast topped by pound-for-pound entrant and reigning welterweight titlist Terence Crawford (36-0, 27KOs) in a voluntary defense versus England’s Kell Brook (39-2, 27KOs).
“Of course, it was a fight I wanted as soon as possible, something I told my manager Tony Tolj as soon as the conversation came up,” notes Moloney. “Top Rank’s response to it was overwhelming, to say the least. To be back in Las Vegas and on ESPN right away was a sigh of relief to me.
“To be on a massive show like this just tells me how confident Top Rank is in my abilities and I plan to make this count.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
