Tony Tolj highlights historic title attempt and overseas opportunities

Aus-Boxing.com

THE Moloney brothers are on the verge accomplishing a unique and historic feat.

At the St Kilda City Hall on Saturday night, undefeated twins Andrew and Jason Moloney can become the first ever Australian brothers to simultaneously reign as Commonwealth champions.

The lighter of the duo, Andrew Moloney (15-0, 10 KOs) captured the Commonwealth super flyweight crown by blitzing Tanzanian Hashimu Zuberi in four rounds last October. Meanwhile, menacing brother Jason Moloney (15-0, 12 KOs) will face regarded former world title challenger Immanuel Naidjala (23-4-1, 13 KOs) as he attempts to secure the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title in just his second appearance in the weight class.

The 27-year-old Andrew, who also captured Commonwealth honours as an amateur, will face dangerous OPBF super flyweight champion Rene Dacquel, in a mouth-watering unification between two of the most avoided regional titleholders on the Asia Pacific circuit. A win by the aforementioned Jason would secure the Moloney brothers a unique piece of Australian boxing history just four years into their developing professional careers.

Ahead of the biggest challenges of their respective careers, the twin’s manager Tony Tolj reflects on the first chapter of their fledgling relationship.

“The journey has been great, it’s been two years now, I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Tolj in an interview with Aus-Boxing. “It’s a pleasure working with good people and you won’t find better people than Team Moloney. This will be the first time in history that two Australian brothers have held the Commonwealth title,”

Tolj began working with the highly-touted twins in 2016, where the pair embarked on an impressive debut campaign under the West Australian’s guidance, winning all of their six appearances for the year, while capturing individual regional baubles under the WBA banner. Tolj has built a strong relationship with the Panama-based organisation following a fruitful tenure at the helm of celebrated Indonesian icon Chris John, who reigned as a WBA titleholder for a decade.

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I’ll be broadcasting the world class double header featuring the unbeaten Moloney twins, live and free on the Aus Boxing Facebook page this Saturday night #boxing

10:33 AM – Feb 22, 2018
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In the time that has passed, the twins have secured WBA Oceania titles in two divisions as they have worked their way towards world title opportunities in their newly-found divisions. While their rise has been rapid, Tolj wasn’t surprised by the fast paced trajectory of the boxing brother’s professional journeys, quickly praising their difficult run of seasoned opponents, including their latest individual assignments.

“It’s very remarkable, but they’re two remarkable fighters.” he quipped. “They’re attempting to be one of only three sets of twins behind the Charlo brothers (Jermell and Jermall Charlo) from the States and the Galaxy brothers (Virote and Sura Saenkham) from Thailand to win world titles.”

“Actually everyone has commended us for stepping up in competition,” he added. “Dacquel is definitely Andrew’s biggest test to date. We as a team are always looking for new challenges. As for Jason, his opponent Naidjala is a former world title challenger and Jason will be fighting over twelve rounds for the first time in his career.”

With the lighter weight divisions beginning to pick up notoriety in the US – partly due to the unprecedented success of Tom Loeffler’s HBO backed ‘Super Fly’ series – Tolj is looking to make inroads into the lucrative American market with his prodigiously talented duo, if they can continue their collaborative winning ways in Melbourne.

“We’ve been in talks with Tom Loeffler from 360 Promotions regarding the second ‘Super Fly’ event in California, which is coincidentally on the same day as when Jason and Andrew fight,” he concluded. “I’ve said that we are ready to fight in the US, England, Japan, Mexico and even Jupiter – it doesn’t matter – the boys are ready.”