Jason Moloney W12 Vincent Astrolabio... Jason "Mayhem" Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) captured the vacant WBO bantamweight title with a majority decision win against Filipino puncher Vincent Astrolabio (18-4, 13 KOs). This was one of the four titles vacated by Naoya Inoue, the world champion who moved up to 122 pounds last year (but has yet to fight in his new weight division). Moloney boxed intelligently to prevent Astrolabio’s ever-present power from hurting him. Astrolabio had some success in cutting the distance in the early rounds, but by the middle rounds, the 32-year-old native of Melbourne, Australia, began easily controlling the fight with constant footwork and jabs. Despite a seemingly clear Moloney win, one judge scored the fight 114-114. That score was overruled by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 for Moloney, who will return home as champion.

 

Moloney said, “I thought I won it going away, but all that matters is the victory. And now I have this belt for the rest of my life. I broke my hand in the third or fourth round. It hurt every time I threw it. But I knew this was my last chance to make my dream come true. This is half the job done for Team Moloney. Next week, [twin brother] Andrew will join me as champion of the world.”