A ndrew Moloney stood with his heart in his mouth as the ring announcer began to speak. There was nervous anticipation in the air that humid June night at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan. After all, he had been here before. For 36 minutes, he had ground away in his bid to wrest the IBF junior bantamweight title from Willibaldo Garcia. Through six rounds, everything had unfolded according to plan. A disciplined display of sharp boxing and pinpoint counterpunching saw Moloney claim five of the opening six rounds on all three judges’ scorecards. Then the momentum shifted. HEARTBREAK, CONTROVERSY AND DEFEAT, ANDREW MOLONEY AT LAST REACHED HIS GOAL OF WINNING A WORLD TITLE By Anthony Cocks A Dream DELAYED Garcia leaned into his strength and power, gradually turning the tide. He took four of the next five rounds unanimously, with only the eighth in dispute. What had looked like a comfortable path to victory for Moloney had suddenly become a desperate fight to the finish. A potential victory would secure Moloney’s future. Defeat might consign him to boxing’s WITH RELENTLESS DETERMINATION IN THE FACE OF
scrap heap. Twenty years of chasing a world championship, 12 as a pro, had come down to these final moments.
50 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker