Andrew Moloney Captures IBF Gold; Nqothole to Get First Crack?
In what was likely his final opportunity to compete for a world title, Australia’s Andrew Moloney captured the IBF junior bantamweight championship with a majority decision victory (115-113, 114-114, 115-113) over Mexico’s Willibaldo Garcia at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan. The newly crowned champion is now expected to make his first defense against South Africa’s Sikho Nqothole, the IBF’s mandatory challenger at 115 pounds.
Facing an opponent known for his relentless aggression, Moloney (29-4, 18 KOs) chose to box from the outside and rely on his technical skills. Garcia (23-7-2, 13 KOs) enjoyed plenty of success throughout the contest, pressing the action, maintaining a high work-rate, and forcing the pace. While Garcia appeared to outwork the Australian at times, Moloney consistently landed the cleaner and more accurate punches. In the end, the judges favored Moloney’s precision over Garcia’s volume, awarding him a hard-fought majority decision.
FROM HEARTACHE TO UNBRIDLED JOY
The victory completed a remarkable turnaround for Moloney. In May 2024, following a controversial split-decision loss to Pedro Guevara, the Australian announced his retirement and blasted the sport as corrupt. However, after reconsidering his decision, Moloney returned to the ring and earned back-to-back victories in December 2024 and November 2025 to position himself for another title opportunity.
Now, at 35 years old, Moloney has achieved the goal that once seemed out of reach. Following the final bell and the announcement of the decision, the new champion celebrated with visible emotion after capturing the IBF crown.
While Guevara’s team could potentially seek a rematch by filing an official protest, the more likely scenario is a mandatory title defense against Nqothole. The South African earned his position as the IBF’s top contender with a unanimous decision victory over Charlie Edwards on May 29 in Edwards’ hometown of London, England.
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