Australian boxer Jason Moloney experienced a significant setback in his career after losing to Japanese star Tenshin Nasukawa, dashing his hopes for a title shot. Moloney, 34, entered the bout eager to rebound from his previous defeat against Yoshiki Takei, where he lost his world bantamweight title, and aimed to secure a rematch with Takei later in the year. However, his aspirations were quashed when he lost to Nasukawa by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 97-93 and 98-92.
Nasukawa, who improved his record to 6-0, showcased his boxing skills throughout the ten-round fight. Moloney started strong, demonstrating good adjustments, but Nasukawa ultimately proved more adept, leveraging his experience from his kickboxing background, where he boasted an impressive record of 42-0. American boxer Mikaele Mayer, who provided commentary during the match, noted that Nasukawa displayed substantial skill despite initial skepticism regarding his boxing credentials.
Post-fight, Nasukawa expressed interest in challenging for the title, indicating his ambition to step up in the boxing world. Mayer had previously voiced concerns about Nasukawa’s inexperience in boxing, stating he would be surprised at being offered a fight with someone of Moloney’s stature. However, he acknowledged Nasukawa’s notable kickboxing experience and hinted that he appeared more seasoned than one would expect from only a few boxing matches.
The defeat marked a difficult moment for Moloney, who embraced his partner in an emotional display after the match. With this loss, his immediate title shot hopes have been compromised, leaving him to reassess his next steps in the sport.