”Jason Moloney on change of camp: “I feel we are making big improvements

IN most cases, if something isn’t broken, it generally doesn’t need to be fixed.

However, in the case of the unbeaten Jason Moloney, a wholesale change has been made as the super bantamweight prospect attempts to reach greater heights in his professional career.

Moloney, 26, and his equally accomplished twin brother Andrew, made the difficult decision to seperate from long-time trainer Brian Butler and his East End Boxing stable following their last appearances in February, in search of a change in scenery.

The pair have relocated from their Melbourne base and now call Northern New South Wales home. Furthermore, the twins are now trained by regarded tactician Angelo Hyder, a man who is more famously known for his work with multiple division titleholders Danny Green and Vic Darchinyan.

Looking back on the big move, Moloney (12-0, 10 KOs) admits that it was a change that needed to be made.

“We really love it up here, it’s been a nice fresh change.” said Moloney in an interview with Aus-Boxing. “We decided it was a change we both needed to make and we’ve been able to recharge the batteries a bit. We are now both training better than ever and we are really excited to get back into the ring this week.”

“We had to start making the move in finding a new trainer and setting ourselves up with a new team. So I haven’t fought in four months, it’s been quite a long time out of the ring. But I’m feeling recharged and feeling ready to go.”

Moloney, who currently listed as the ninth contender to the WBA super bantamweight throne which is shared by Guillermo Rigondeaux and Shun Kubo, will make the fourth defence of his WBA affiliated regional strap against lively Mexican Emanuel Armendariz at the Melbourne Park Function Centre for Hosking Promotions.

The fight will be Moloney’s first appearance in his home state for the year, and also the first time he will compete since moving interstate. Having put together a run of seven consecutive wins in 2016, the dexterous firebrand is looking to have a more purposeful approach to mapping out his fights.

“Last year we decided to get really active and try to get some experience,” he explained. “We tried to get some really good rounds under the belt. We pumped out seven really good fights and seven really good impressive wins, which is great.”

“But now it’s about moving into the next stage and heading towards the ten round title fights and I’ll aim to have about four fights a year. The fights will be bigger and better – with a lot more on the line – and the fights will start to get harder and harder,”

“We need to make sure we prepare for each one perfectly. So instead of being so active, we hope to have fights that are bigger and better and much more important. I’m looking for some big fights this year, but I am really focused on getting the job done this Saturday.”

“I’m expecting him (Armendariz) to come forward and trade punches. He seems to be an opponent that will come over and give me a nice tough fight. I’m really looking forward to it. I think this is fourth defence of my belt and it’s doing great things for my ranking. I just need to keep winning.”

Despite being in the paid ranks for less than three years, Moloney is fast approaching a point in his career where title eliminators against fellow world rated fighters will start become a realistic option. And while Moloney isn’t in negotiations to face any of the fighters rated above him, he admits that these opportunities are within his reach.

“I have my eyes on a few of the guys above me in the top ten which I would love to make those fights happen at the right time,” he continued. “I can say we are really only twelve to eighteen months off a world title shot, so I need to start really putting in some impressive performances.”

Boxing has always been a lonely sport, this will never change, particularly for its combatants. As the Moloney twins have seen first hand, sacrifices come hand-in-hand with success. Although a move interstate wasn’t originally on the cards, it is ultimately about improving and giving themselves the best chance to succeed at the highest level.

“We only get one crack at this and we are both about to give it everything we’ve got,” he concluded. “We will do anything we have to do to make sure that we give ourselves the best chance to achieve our dreams.”

“We would love to still be in Melbourne, that’s where our friends and family are. But we have to step outside the comfort zone and make the changes that we think are necessary to make us improve as fighters and give us every chance we have to become world champions.”

“I feel we are making big improvements. Hopefully on Saturday night, people will notice and see a big difference – it’s not going to happen overnight – but we just have to keep working hard. I hope everyone will see and new and improved Jason Moloney.”

Photo: Justin Gan/East End Boxing