Unretired Aussie wants world title by NYE
The veterans will wage an IBF super flyweight eliminator war in Durango on August 9, three weeks later than it was initially scheduled for in Monterrey.
Moloney (27-4) furiously declared he was quitting the sport after losing a controversial points decision to Pedro Guevara, for the interim WBC super flyweight title, in Perth last May.
But the former secondary WBA belt holder, 34 and 11 years on from his professional debut, had a change of heart and is now two wins away from his biggest boxing moment.
"This is a must-win," he told AAP after landing in Mexico.
Moloney is 6-2 since losing his controversial Joshua Franco trilogy that began in the MGM Grand's Las Vegas bubble due to COVID-19 in 2020.
"It's been years of hard work to get back to this position and I won't let this opportunity slip," he said.
"I will be world champion again before the end of 2025.
"I'm extremely excited about this fight.
"I'm on fire in the gym at the moment and preparation has been perfect.
"Cortes is a good, well-rounded fighter.
"He can box and can brawl when he needs to, but I believe his style suits me perfectly and believe I am better than him in every department."
Cortes (27-4-2) has only once fought outside of Mexico, taking Junto Nakatani the distance for the first time in a 2023 title bout months after the Japanese star had delivered Moloney a brutal final-round knockout.
The victor next month will be next in line to face fellow Mexican Willibaldo Garcia, who edged countryman Rene Calixto to claim the vacant IBF crown in May.
"He puts a lot of pressure on his opponents but he definitely has holes in his game," Moloney said of the IBF champion.
"That is a fight I'm very confident of winning but I can't look past Cortes yet.
"I enjoy going to enemy territory and fighting in my opponents' backyard.
"I have never been to Mexico and all of my favourite fighters are Mexican so I'm looking forward to the experience."
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