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Jason Moloney has fallen to a seventh-round knockout loss to Naoya Inoue of Japan in their bantamweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
One of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, Inoue was too much for Moloney, knocking him down in the sixth before finishing him off with a thunderous right hand in the seventh round.
Moloney was wholehearted at all times, but he was dominated and outmatched by an incredibly talented fighter in Inoue.
Moloney, 29, was sent to the mat early in the sixth round for a perfect left hook. He rallied to see the frame, but couldn’t continue as Inoue hit a massive counter-right in the seventh.
“I’m very satisfied, very happy,” Inoue said afterward.
“Moloney has great defense and it was difficult to pass. The two shots that he had practiced a lot in Japan. I’m happy I was able to use them.”
Inoue showed her speed early on, slamming her jab into Moloney’s face.
Moloney had his moments early on, landing a good body shot up close, but from a distance, it was all Inoue. His speed and ability to close distances kept Moloney doubting.
Inoue hit a good one-two followed by an upper right cut that had Moloney on the back foot in the third round.
Sensing the change, Inoue began to walk forward with more intent, swarming and choking to get closer and throwing short hooks and uppercuts.
Inoue found her rhythm in the fourth, while Moloney was all-hearted but unable to take down the Monster.
A tough and playful Moloney moved forward to close in the fifth, finding an early hit before Inoue’s jab held him at bay.
A short counter left hook when Moloney threw a double jab left the Australian just 30 seconds into the sixth round.
Obviously, Moloney recovered quite well, but he was in survival mode after taking another big left hook to the chin in the final minute of the round.
Inoue set up the knockout blow beautifully, drawing Moloney in on a jab before countering overhead.
Moloney tried to get to his feet, but it was clear the fight was over.
