8/14 ESPN: Moloney vs Franco 3 / Moloney vs Greer / Barboza vs Moran

[patscorpio]

Nine months after boxing’s most controversial conclusion of 2020, WBA super flyweight world champion Joshua “El Profesor” Franco and Australia’s former world champion Andrew “The Monster” Moloney will settle the score in the third chapter of their rivalry Saturday, Aug. 14 at Hard Rock Live at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

In the 10-round co-feature, undefeated WBO International junior welterweight champion Arnold Barboza Jr. will take on Antonio “Tono” Moran.

The four-round middleweight special attraction will see the professional debut of Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali, against an opponent to be named.

This titanic Tulsa tripleheader will be televised live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Andrew’s twin brother, bantamweight contender Jason “Mayhem” Moloney, will fight Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer Jr. in a 10-rounder that will be among the undercard fights streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ before the televised tripleheader. Tulsa fan-favorite Trey Lippe Morrison (17-0, 17 KOs) and emerging junior lightweight prospect Karlos Balderas (9-1, 8 KOs) will fight on the undercard in six-round bouts, while Tulsa-born heavyweight prospect Jeremiah Milton (3-0, 3 KOs) will see action in a four-rounder.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Tony Holden Productions and Golden Boy Promotions, tickets starting at $49.50 go on sale Tuesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. CST and can be purchased at tickets.hardrockcasinotulsa.com and at the Box Office at 918-384-ROCK (7625).

“The Hard Rock and the fight fans of Tulsa are in for a treat with a grudge match between Franco and Moloney, an all-action fight between Barboza and Moran, and the professional debut of a special young man in Nico Ali Walsh,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

Franco (17-1-2, 8 KOs), from San Antonio, Texas, upset Moloney (21-1, 14 KOs) via unanimous decision last June to win the world title. In their November 2020 rematch, Moloney dominated Franco over the first two rounds before swelling under Franco’s right eye prompted the fight to be stopped. Many ringside observers believed a punch caused the damage, which would’ve resulted in a TKO victory for Moloney. The referee in Nevada determined the swelling came from a headbutt, and following a nearly 30-minute replay review, a no contest meant Franco retained his title. The controversy did not subside, and less than one month after the disputed conclusion, the WBA mandated a third fight.

“I’m very excited for this third fight with Moloney. I’ve been preparing very well for this fight, and I’m feeling stronger than ever,” Franco said. “I hope everybody tunes in come fight night because it’s going to be one to remember. I will remind Moloney why I’m the champ. And still!”

Moloney said, “I’ve had to wait nine months to once again fight for what should have been mine back in November. There is no way I’ll be leaving that ring without my world title this time. I’m sure when he looks at himself in the mirror, he knows deep down he’s not the real champion. He knows there was no head clash. I’ve stayed in the gym and used this time to improve as a fighter. He is up against an even better fighter than he was the last time around. He’s in trouble.”

Barboza (25-0, 10 KOs), from South El Monte, California, is the WBO No. 3 contender, a 29-year-old who has steadily risen the ranks since turning pro more than eight years ago. After a 3-0 2019 campaign that saw him knock out former world champion Mike Alvarado, he notched a pair of significant wins in 2020 with decisions over Tony Luis and Alex Saucedo. Barboza now readies for Moran (26-4-1, 19 KOs), a native of Mexico City who is 2-0-1 since a 2019 defeat to Devin Haney.

Barboza said, “I’ve been in the gym since the Saucedo fight, and I’m looking forward to this one. He’s a tough, experienced fighter, and we’re looking to put on a good show. I don’t pay too much attention to the rankings. I always train like it’s a world title fight, and I expect Moran to give a great effort.”

Jason Moloney (21-2, 18 KOs) is a two-time bantamweight world title challenger who attempted to take down pound-for-pound great Naoya “Monster” Inoue last October. Inoue prevailed by seventh-round knockout, but Moloney returns to action intent on etching his name among the division’s top contenders. Chicago native Greer (22-2-2, 12 KOs), who climbed the world rankings following a string of dramatic knockouts, is 0-1-1 in his last two bouts and eager to recapture the form that saw him knock out seven straight foes from 2017-2019.

Jason Moloney said, “I’m excited to finally be back after what will be nearly 10 months out of the ring. After the disappointment with Inoue, I went straight back into the gym, and I’ve been working extremely hard. I learned a lot from that fight, and it has pushed me and motivated me to improve and reach another level. This is a must-win fight for both myself and Greer, but this is my road back to a world title, and no one will stop me from achieving my dream of becoming champion of the world.”

Greer said, “I’m dialed in and having a great camp in Las Vegas. My trainer, Kay Koroma, has added a lot to my game. No stone will be left unturned. Jason Moloney is another top contender, and at this level, you need other good fighters to bring the best out of you. I’m ready to mix it up with him on August 14. I’m thankful to Top Rank, James Prince and Antonio Leonard for this opportunity.”

 

[patscorpio]

def not a bad little card from TR

moloney vs franco 3 will either be FOTY caliber like the 1st fight or a total one side asswhoopin like the 2nd fight

moloney vs greer - i have a feeling this is greer's last chance..if moloney beats him, he's prolly going to get released

barboza vs moran should be a decent scrap; moran may get bodied

 

[patscorpio]

uppin

 

[patscorpio]

Genesis Servania vs. Andres Cortes Added To Franco-Moloney Card

BY RANDOM HITS
Published Thu Aug 05, 2021, 05:07 PM EDT


After more than 18 months out of the ring, Filipino all-action star Genesis Servania hopes to snatch an undefeated record in his long-awaited return. Servania will battle Las Vegas native Andres Cortes in an eight-round junior lightweight bout Saturday, Aug. 14 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

Servania-Cortes bolsters the Titanic Tulsa Tripleheader featuring the third fight between WBA super flyweight world champion Joshua “El Profesor” Franco and Australia’s former world champion Andrew “The Monster” Moloney, unbeaten junior welterweight Arnold Barboza Jr. against Antonio Moran, and the pro debut of middleweight Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali.

In other undercard action, Toledo’s unbeaten junior lightweight contender Albert Bell will fight Ecuadorian veteran Julio Cortez in an eight-rounder, while Abraham Nova returns from an injury to fight an opponent to be named in an eight-round featherweight tilt. The ESPN+ undercard stream starts at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, preceding the tripleheader on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Tony Holden Productions and Golden Boy Promotions, tickets starting at $49.50 are on sale now and can be purchased at tickets.hardrockcasinotulsa.com and the Box Office at 918-384-ROCK (7625).

Servania (34-2, 16 KOs) is 5-1 with four knockouts since falling short in a 2017 Fight of the Year contender to Oscar Valdez for the WBO featherweight world title. He moved up to junior lightweight following a February 2019 decision loss to top junior featherweight contender Carlos Castro. Cortes (14-0, 7 KOs) last fought May 22 on the Josh Taylor-Jose Ramirez undercard and notched a unanimous decision over Eduardo Garza.

Bell (18-0, 5 KOs), the WBO No. 8 junior lightweight contender, is 6-0 since signing with Top Rank in 2018. He authored his signature victory in June 2019 when he outboxed Andy Vences over 10 rounds. Bell fought in April in Tulsa and turned back the stiff challenge of Manuel Rey Rojas. Cortez (15-2, 11 KOs) is unbeaten as a junior lightweight and has won two straight bouts since a split decision defeat in February 2020.

Nova (19-0, 14 KOs) has been out of action since June 2020, when he figured out the tricky Avery Sparrow en route to a 10-round decision win. Ranked in the top 15 by two of the major sanctioning organizations, Nova will now set his sights on climbing the featherweight rankings. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Albany, N.Y., Nova had knocked out four straight foes before the Sparrow fight.

In other action:

2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas (9-1, 8 KOs) has an opponent for his Top Rank debut in a six-rounder at junior lightweight: Fidel Cervantes (9-1-1, 4 KOs), a native of Kansas whose only loss came by majority decision.

 

[patscorpio]

when are they going to announce who the young ali is going to face?

 

[patscorpio]

 

[reservoirdogs]

Franco needs to start faster than last time, it was like he left himself in the locker room, Moloney started off with a much higher amplitude. Franco might have been lucky there that it went to a NC cause he really looked like his energy was sapped. Many didn't like the NC cause it wasn't a headbutt but I was okay with it cause instead Moloney, probably unintentionally thumbed Franco's eye.

I'd be surprised if Barboza wouldn't beat Moran and if Jason Moloney wouldn't beat Greer. Jason Moloney is a tough out for anyone not named Inoue at the weightclass, he's got a good chin and a great engine, could be a nightmare if you are a low output fighter and you can't put him away somehow.

 

[patscorpio]

 

[Electric Ladyland]

pretty good card

both Moloney brothers getting fukked up

 

[patscorpio]

pretty good card

both Moloney brothers getting fukked up

i dont know about that..i have little faith in greer at this point...and franco looked like he fell off a cliff in the second fight and escaped with that no contest..they (moloneys) both might get big KO victories tonight

and man ive seen more marketing for ali's grandkid for this card than the rest of the fights on it

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

Is Ali's grandson making his debut on this card?
.

 

[patscorpio]

Is Ali's grandson making his debut on this card?
.

yes

 

[Electric Ladyland]

i dont know about that..i have little faith in greer at this point...and franco looked like he fell off a cliff in the second fight and escaped with that no contest..they (moloneys) both might get big KO victories tonight

and man ive seen more marketing for ali's grandkid for this card than the rest of the fights on it

i think Franco had a difficult time making weight last time, i definitely think he’ll win tonight

Ali’s grandkid looks average as hell but Arum is gonna milk that shyt

 

[patscorpio]

 

[Conscious Pilot]