Naoya Inoue to make US debut against Jason Moloney in October

Naoya Inoue’s US debut is ready.

The unified bantamweight champion and ESPN’s No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter is scheduled to face Jason Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs) at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas this fall, according to Moloney’s manager Tony Tolj.

“We are still in talks and finalizing the fight, but it looks like we will be fighting Inoue for all of her titles,” Tolj said.

Bob Arum, who promotes both Jason Moloney and his brother Andrew, says the fight is scheduled for October 31.

Originally, the highly respected Inoue was scheduled to take on WBO belt holder John Riel Casimero. That fight fell apart due to economic changes in the sport due to the coronavirus pandemic. Casimero now faces Duke Micah on September 26.

“We would like to thank John Riel Casimero and Sean Gibbons [of MP Promotions]. In fact, we could send a Christmas basket to the Philippines for making the fight happen, “Tolj joked.” We are not running away from the ‘Monster’, we are there to face it. “

On June 25, Jason Moloney stopped Leonardo Baez in seven rounds in his Top Rank debut. Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) last fought Nonito Donaire last November.

Andrew Moloney (21-1, 14 KOs) lost his WBA 115-pound title in a close unanimous decision to Joshua Franco on June 23, but has enforced his rematch clause and will most likely face Franco again in November.

Tolj says both Moloneys will be ready.

“They are the consummate fighters; they are in the gym every day,” he said. “These guys eat, breathe, live boxing.”

Tolj said the pair will return to the United States about a month before the Inoue fight, and said these will be two of the biggest fights the Moloneys will have.

In the words of Ric Flair, Tolj joked, “To beat the man, you have to beat the man.”