Andrew Moloney: “These are the type of fights I need”

ANDREW Moloney knows that an elusive world title opportunity is right around the corner.

The unbeaten pocket dynamo, who is aptly labeled ‘The Monster’, will test the legitimacy of his potential at world level when he faces former two-division world champion Luis Concepcion on Saturday night.

As the level of opposition continues to rise, Moloney (17-0, 10 KOs) realises that the stakes do as well.

“I’ve had seventeen fights now and remain undefeated,” Moloney told Aus-Boxing.

“Each fight we have always tried to step up the level of opposition. So after seventeen fights now, I sort have got to the point now where I feel like I’m ready to fight the top guys in the division.”

“I really want to push on to fight for a world title as soon as possible. We tried to get all the guys above me in the WBA rankings to agree to a fight.”

“I’m currently number four at the moment and was number five last month, the guys above me basically didn’t want it. We kept going on down the line and Luis Concepcion was just one below me at number six and we thought that would be the perfect fight.”

“He was the one who held the belt before losing it Kal Yafai, so it made sense to try to get him. Thankfully he agreed to the fight and was happy to come out to Australia.”

“I’m rapt that we were able to secure a fight that big, against an opponent who is really going to push me and see where I’m at.”

Having secured a series of impressive scalps since moving down to super flyweight, including a criminally under-appreciated win over Rene Dacquel, Moloney admits his career progression mirrors his ambition.

“These are the type of fights I need before fighting for a world title,” he said.

“It’s going to be a great experience for me. I believe I will get through it and be ready to take on Yafai next hopefully.”

The 27-year-old credits his rapid improvement to head-trainer Angelo Hyder, who took the reigns from a coaching capacity shortly before his move down in weight.

“Angelo is just an unbelievable coach, his knowledge is unbelievable,” Moloney continued.

“I feel really good at the weight and I’ve made some really huge improvements in my boxing in the last year and a half since I’ve been training with Angelo.”

“When I watch a fight now I can see so many different things that I wouldn’t have seen before. My boxing IQ has gone to a whole new level, I feel like I’ve just improved so much under his guidance.”

“I’m really confident now against these top guys. I look at all the top guys in the division – and it is a stacked division – but I look at them and think I can match it with all of them.”

“I’m excited to test myself against a fighter like Luis Concepcion and show everyone where I’m at.”

The magnitude of the event has drawn the backing of the City of Greater Bendigo, who have enabled Hosking Promotions to secure such a high-calibre opponent.

For Moloney, the opportunity to compete at the opening of the revamped Bendigo Stadium is something he looks forward to doing.

“The stadium looks really impressive,” he concluded.

“Bendigo really gets behind the events and I have got quite a lot of people making the trip out there for the fight, I’m really looking forward to it. I feel like this level I’m fighting at now is perfect timing really.”

“With how much I have improved in the last year, I’m happy this fight has come about now.”

“I’m just expecting the best Luis Concepcion that there has ever been on fight night and that’s what I’ve trained for and I’m comfortable that I can get the job done.”

“I think he definitely see me as wanting to be able to get back to fighting for a world title. I think he sees that if he can beat me he will be right back in the mix.”

“He probably looks at me as only having seventeen fights and thinks he can handle me. But, I’ll have to prove him wrong on fight night.”