MOLONEY DETHRONES DACQUEL, GRABS OPBF SUPER FLY TITLE

New OPBF super flyweight champion Andrew Moloney (right) with dethroned champion Rene Dacquel. (Photos by BRICO SANTIG)

By LITO DELOS REYES

AUSSIE Andrew “The Monster” Moloney landed more telling blows to dethrone defending champion Rene “Commander”” Dacquel of the Philippines via a unanimous decision in their unification title fight held Saturday night at the Town Hall, St. Kilda in Australia.
The 27-year old Moloney is now the new Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super flyweight champion aside from being the reigning WBA Oceania super flyweight title holder.
The scores of the three judges from Australia were 117-111, 118-111 and 119-109.
Moloney remained undefeated with 16 straight wins and 10 knockouts while 27-year old Dacquel suffered his 7th loss against 20 wins, 6 knockouts and 1 draw.
Dacquel is the 10th Filipino victim of Moloney, who first won against Jonathan Ligas by a 1st round knockout in 2014 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton to win the vacant Australia-Victoria State Bantamweight title.
Moloney then beat Boholano Nilben Lottila by a unanimous decision on March 6, 2015 in the same venue.
He later scored another unanimous decision against Ronerex Dalut of General Santos City on August 19, 2015 at the Hisense Arena, Melbourne.
Moloney then stopped Roberto Lerio also of Gensan by a 4th round knockout to win the Australian bantamweight crown on December 18, 2015 at the Town Hall in Malvern.
The following year, Moloney defeated three other Filipino fighters – Cris Alfante (UD), Markquil Salvana (TKO 1st round) and Jether Oliva (TKO 6th round for WBA Oceana bantamweight title).
Last year, Moloney crushed Renoel Pael (UD) then Raymond Tabugon by 4th round TKO for the vacant WBA Oceania super flyweight title.
Moloney was downed by Tabugon earlier in the 3rd round but came back strong by also knocking down the Filipino boxer from Sanman Boxing Gym of Gensan in the next round.
Moloneys twin brother Jason stopped Immanuel Naidjala by a 3rd round technical knockout to keep his WBA Oceania bantamweight title and also win the vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Bantamweight
WBA Oceania Bantamweight crown.
Jason is also still unbeaten with 16 wins and 13 by knockouts.