'Worst excuse' fuels Moloney as fight gets personal
Australia's former super flyweight world champion will fight Argi Cortes in the off-beat Mexican city of Durango in an IBF world title eliminator on August 16.
The fight was first shifted from July 12 to 19 in Monterrey but, up against the Manny Pacquiao and Jesse Rodriguez cards, lost its television deal.
The promoter eventually rescheduled the fight to August 9.
It wasn't until Moloney (27-4) and his team were on the ground that the date was moved again, this time because friends of the businessman bankrolling the event were busy this weekend and couldn't attend.
"It's the worst excuse I've ever heard to push a fight back," Moloney told AAP.
"They didn't even try and hide the fact; pretty disrespectful I thought."
Moloney's twin brother Jason, dethroned as WBO bantamweight world champion last year, is also in camp.
They'll both now miss their mother's 60th birthday getaway, that had already been shifted once to accommodate the second date change.
On to their third Durango rental booking, the Moloney team have leant on their sponsors and explained to their children why they're not coming home next week.
"I'm looking forward to taking that one out on Argi Cortes," the 34-year-old said.
"You've pissed off my mum and let her down, champ.
"All she wanted was a birthday with the whole family together, but you've stuffed that up. It's been ridiculous."
He is adamant the delays will help though, Moloney confident the five-week stay will have him fully acclimatised to the city's higher altitude and time zone.
"They've made a big mistake, because I've got better and better the longer I've been here," he said.
"Over the years it's felt like things have never really gone my way, but it's like the stars have aligned."
Moloney has reunited with Francisco Pedroza, who lost to his brother Jason in 2022 and has since been used as a sparring partner.
Two other sparring partners, one who owns a gym and lives in Durango, have helped Moloney feel right at home.
"It's not the place you'd go for a holiday and I'm fighting in his backyard, but I've realised I actually love the feeling of doing it the hard way," he said.
The former secondary WBA super flyweight champion beat Migual Gonzalez in his native Chile on the way to his first title strap in 2019.
A controversial trilogy loss to Joshua Franco stripped him of that status, before Moloney was knocked out by superstar Junto Nakatani in a 2023 world title fight and then copped a dubious points loss in an interim world title fight in Perth last year.
That defeat to another Mexican, Pedro Guevara, prompted a furious Moloney to announce his immediate retirement, a declaration he walked back once the dust had settled.
Next weekend's victor will earn mandatory status against current IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia.
Cortes (27-4-2), the only man to go the distance with Nakatani in a title fight, is no pushover.
"Sometimes you feel like you're in the tunnel and there's no light at the end, but at the moment it's never been more clear," Moloney said.
"Beat these two guys in front of me.
"I've just got this burning desire to become world champion again.
"It's all I've thought about since losing it and I'm so close now, not going to let anything get in the way."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
13 hours ago
- The Age
This terracotta cube is home to one of Bali's most stylish stays
The hotel has collaborated with Mason Hospitality Group to create Bar Vera, a European-style bistro and wine bar which occupies the street level and serves up share plates such as potato bread, pork jowl and savoury pumpkin pie with truffle, alongside a biodynamic wine list. When I stay, breakfast is not included and guests have the option of paying an extra $25 for a smoothie bowl (excessive for Bali). Coffee fanatics will fawn over Melbourne export St Ali Coffee Roasters, which has moved into the ground level of Further Gallery and is now feeding the people. Alongside this, Pererenan has a growing number of quality restaurants and cafes, including Lebanese spot Zali, modern Indian Rize, and Mexican joint Origen. Out + about Check out the speakeasy at the back of vinyl store Peels Records and Bar, as well as Indian restaurant Red Gunpowder, which sits underneath small bar The Shady Fox. Pererenan Beach is a 20-minute walk away, while buzzing Batu Bolong is less than 15 minutes' drive. If you know what you're doing, it's worthwhile renting a scooter. Also part of the Further brand and found on the same street is bespoke perfumery Oaken, as well as Thomas Surfboards. The verdict
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
'Psycho mode' surf awaits world No.1 and 12-year-old
Australian world No.1 surfer Molly Picklum, 12-year-old Kelia Gallina and "psycho mode" Teahupo'o are about to make history together. Gallina will become the World Surf League's youngest competitor when she takes on Picklum and American Lakey Peterson in the opening round of the Tahiti Pro. One of world surfing's most iconic and feared breaks has been at full throttle ahead of the event, with organisers trumpeting "Teahupo'o goes psycho mode" in their publicity. Ahead of the event starting on Friday (AEST), some waves were too big to paddle and competitors needed towing out to the break. But this is Gallina's backyard. She won the local trials event to qualify and will be a significant threat to Picklum, Peterson and whoever else goes up against her. "It's crazy to think what I would have been doing at 12 versus what Kelia is doing," 22-year-old Picklum told AAP. "I was getting a surfboard off the sand, a soft top, probably nine-foot, and probably just barely paddling out the back - and she's out at 'Chopes', giving it a go." Picklum spent time with Gallina when Teahupo'o hosted last year's Olympics event and has no doubt that youngster will be ready for her WSL debut. "Her Dad is really calculated, he takes her out in conditions where she can thrive, rather than get really scared," Picklum said. "The forecast is looking a little tricky, but ultimately I believe she's capable - she has all the technique. "It's cool, it creates stories that people can chew on. It brings more attention and makes it more exciting for the viewers to watch - a 12-year-old trying to take on No.1. "But for me, not much thought goes into it - I know the surfing she can do and I know the surfing I can do. Ultimately, she's a really cool girl and I love surfing against people like that." Setting aside the narrative around Gallina, this is a massive event for Picklum. She has a narrow lead in the world rankings over Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, who beat the Australian in the final of the most recent round at South Africa. In a quirk of how the WSL works, that could be the only time this season that Picklum and Bryan go head-to-head in a heat. This is the last event before the final from August 27 in Fiji. Picklum and Bryan have qualified, but their rankings will determine seedings in the title decider. "I made a really crucial mistake in the end there and everything else was right there," Picklum said of the loss to Bryan. "It's exciting for me - I just like putting myself in a place where they're going to have to surf out of their skin to beat me." Australian world No.4 Isabella Nichols is yet to qualify for the final, while compatriot two-time world champion Tyler Wright is currently outside the top-five cutoff at No.7. Brazilian Yago Dora is the only competitor among the men to have qualified so far, with Australian Ethan Ewing at No.5 and compatriot Jack Robinson ranked eighth. "Right now, it's double-XL big wave days out there. There are some really, really big rides happening - probably the waves of people's lives unfolding in our preparation window," Picklum said of the conditions ahead of competition. "It's a lot to digest, but also so cool to watch."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Lions queue for midfield minutes while Neale recharges
The Lions are confident they can overcome Lachie Neale's absence en route to the AFL finals. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) The Lions are confident they can overcome Lachie Neale's absence en route to the AFL finals. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Zac Bailey didn't know about Lachie Neale's injury until he heard about it "in the media". Admitting it left the group "flat", the All Australian contender is confident the defending AFL champions can more than cope with the two-time Brownlow Medal-winner's absence until the finals. "He's a huge out for us but I don't think we're as reliant on him to win the ball for us these days," a relaxed Bailey said of Neale, who will miss the final three home-and-away fixtures with a quadriceps injury. "Guys around him have stepped up their game. "Hughy (McCluggage), Dunks (Josh Dunkley), Will (Ashcroft) have taken their games to another level." Brisbane's midfield stocks are enviable and Bailey, one of many who could run through there more often against Sydney at the Gabba on Saturday, admitted a virtual queue had formed. "Jarrod Berry, he can play both inside and out, Levi (Ashcroft) would love to go inside and there's a few others trying to get in there," he said. "(We were) pretty flat; he kept it pretty quiet, I found out in the media but it'll give him an opportunity freshen up and come back ready to attack finals." Bailey, adapting to more time on a wing, is averaging a career-high 18.84 disposals this season and scoring more than ever before, with 29 goals to go with 24 behinds in 19 games. In his eighth season, he's also averaging more than one mark inside-50 each game for the first time. "I just wanted to be consistent and I feel like I've been able to do that and grasp what needs to be done around that wing role," he said. The Lions, fresh off a statement victory against Collingwood at the MCG last weekend, are third (14-5-1) but need to finish well in games against the Swans, Fremantle and Hawthorn to lock in a top-four spot. "It was pretty important we got ourselves up and we need to continue with that same mindset," Bailey said of the Magpies win that followed a disappointing loss to Gold Coast.
