Manager Reveals Why Jason Moloney Chose Tokyo Defense Over Australian Homecoming
WBO bantamweight world champion Jason Moloney has opted to defend his title in Tokyo, Japan, in his next bout. Scheduled to face undefeated Yoshiki Takei on the undercard of the May 6 Naoya Inoue-Luis Nery fight, Moloney's decision surprised many who expected him to feature on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-George Kambosos Jr. bill in Perth, Australia. Manager Tony Tolj explained the rationale behind Moloney's choice, citing the thriving Japanese boxing scene and the potential for future opportunities. “It’s an awesome opportunity for Jason,” Tolj told BoxingScene. “Japanese boxing is flourishing at the minute, especially in the lower weights." Moloney's desire for a title defense in Australia has been well-documented, but Tolj outlined the compelling reasons for selecting Tokyo instead. “All Jason has ever wanted is to be given an opportunity to be on that big platform,” Tolj said. “He’s going to be fighting in front of 55,000 Japanese people at the historic Tokyo Dome." Tolj emphasized the significance of fighting in Japan from a management perspective, highlighting the potential for unification fights and the country's dominance in the bantamweight division. “From a management point of view, it can open a multitude of unification fights, especially if 75 percent of the belts are in that country," Tolj explained. Despite the allure of a homecoming bout, Moloney and his team recognized the strategic value of fighting in Japan, where they believe significant opportunities await. “Initially, we turned down the fight in Japan while we were in Hawaii, after the Canada defense,” Tolj said. “He was desperate to fight at home – that is all he wanted to do – so we turned it down." Moloney's upcoming bout in Tokyo represents another step in his quest for bantamweight supremacy, as he aims to solidify his position as a world champion. #JasonMoloney #Boxing #Tokyo #WBOChampion
