The world title was on the line as Joshua Franco (17-1-2, 8 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas won a unanimous decision over Andrew Moloney (21-1, 14 KOs) in winning the WBA super flyweight title, handing Moloney his first defeat and spoiling the Australian's U.S debut Tuesday night at the "Bubble" at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in headlining Top Rank on ESPN telecast.
Maloney came out shooting away the jab in the opening round as Franco stayed relaxed with the jab throwing straight shots. Franco was patient in the second round countering Moloney with some left hooks and then landed an uppercut as the champ continued to let his hands go. In the third, Franco began to land big punches staying close to Moloney, a right hand landed by Franco late in the round. The champ began to circle and move in the fourth as Moloney ripped to the body with the left hook but Franco kept fighting on.
Franco had a good fifth as he pressed connecting with some good shots, landing combinations as he backed Moloney. Boxing patiently Franco stuck the jab and followed up with some combinations at the halfway point in the sixth as Moloney kept away. Past the halfway mark in the seventh, Franco snapped Moloney's head back with a stiff jab and let his hands go with combinations, the Australian continued to box as the fight appeared to be close. The professor, Franco stayed close in the eighth as he connected some solid punches on the champ Moloney.
Late in the fight in the ninth round, Franco continued to pressure behind the jab and following up with combinations and connected with an uppercut at the end of the round. In the tenth round, Franco kept pressing backing the champ as Moloney was badly cut on the left eye from a solid right by Franco. The pressure continued as Franco dropped the champ with constant pressure in the eleventh as Moloney got up and continued to fight. The final round saw Franco attacking keeping the pressure as Moloney displaying tremendous toughness just wasn't his night.
In the end all three judges scored for Franco, 115-112, 114-113, and 114-113 as Franco becomes the new WBA super flyweight title.
In the featherweight co-feature former champion Christopher Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs) wins a unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez (15-2, 8 KOs). Diaz and Sanchez exchanged jabs in the opening round as they figured each other out. In round two, Sanchez and Diaz began to let loose displaying the fast hands. Sanchez began firing away in the fourth as Diaz stalked as Sanchez began to pick things up. Diaz connected with some good shots in the fifth as he tagged Sanchez with a left hook.
In the sixth Sanchez came out attacking the body, later in the round Sanchez countered Diaz with a wild looping right. Sanchez kept working the jab and appeared to be busier but Diaz fighting poised countered, later in the eighth round Sanchez connected with a good right hand. Late in the fight both Diaz and Sanchez sensed the urgency. Sanchez was bleeding from his nose in the final round as Diaz looked fresh in the ring, countering effectively Diaz ripped Sanchez as the bloodied Sanchez kept coming forward.
In the end the judges scored the bout 98-92, 98-92, and 97-93 for Diaz.
Undercard
In a junior welterweight battle set for six rounds, Miguel Contreras (11-0, 6 KOs), from Bakersfield, California, won a unanimous decision over Rolando Vargas (5-1, 5 KOs) of Milwaukee by way of Oaxaca, Mexico. Contreras attacked the body opening seconds of the fight. Vargas showed some flash countering as both exchanged. Vargas's nose was busted in the second round as Contreras was relentless letting his hands go, Vargas continued to show his fast hands pressing. There was a clash of heads in the third, Contreras kept staying busy as the bloodied Vargas was cut on his right eye and stalked as he kept receiving punches.
In the fourth, Contreras worked the jab and continued to work away unloading on Vargas. A right hand by Vargas in the fifth connected but Contreras kept coming as Vargas continued to bleed from the cut. The sixth and final round, Contreras ripped away letting his hands go as Vargas looked to land with the knockout punch.
All three judges scored the bout 58-56
In the opening bout of the telecast, Mexico's Helaman Olguin (8-3, 3 KOs) won a majority decision over Adam Stewart (8-1-1, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder at heavyweight. There was a headbutt in the opening round as Steward was on the receiving end which caused a cut underneath his right eye as Holguin targeted the cut. Olguin was confident in the second round boxing away as Steward's eye began to swell. An uppercut on the inside by Olguin snapped Steward's head back in the third as he followed up in the round throwing the left wildly.
Halfway through in the fifth Olguin landed the left hand multiple times as Steward did not see the left coming. Steward stalked late in the fight as Olguin appeared to tired. The sixth and final round Olguin connected with the left once again as Steward continued to press. Olguin closed the fight swinging away as Steward was pinned up against the ropes in the final bell.
In the end the judges scored the bout 58-56, 58-56, and 57-57 as Olguin pulls off the decision.
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