Moloney: “The mood is fantastic, we have shared plenty of laughs”

Australia’s Jason Moloney shares in-depth insight into his preparations ahead of the Ali Trophy Quarter-Final against Puerto Rico’s IBF World Bantamweight Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez October 20 at the CFE Arena, Orlando, USA.
When did you travel to Orlando?
“We flew over to Orlando on September 27 to give our selves a good three weeks over here to settle in and acclimatise perfectly before fight night. Obviously, Australia is very far away and the time difference is huge so we came nice and early to make sure that we will perform at our absolute best.”

How have you been setting up your camp?
“We have a really great camp going over here. We arranged great sparring and we are working very hard but the mood is fantastic and we have shared plenty of laughs. We have a pool at our house and we bought a table tennis table which has produced some fierce competitions. Physically and mentally I am in a really great place right now.”

Can you share other details from your preparations?
“We are all here for one purpose and that is to become World Champion. The whole team here is going above and beyond to make sure I have everything I need to perform at my absolute best.”
“Everything from my meals, training, massage and recovery, everything is perfect. As always, we are leaving no stone unturned in our preparation.”

How is it to see yourself on big billboards in Orlando?
“Being on the other side of the world and seeing myself on big billboards and posters around the streets really is an amazing feeling. This is where I want to be, in the big fights and on the biggest stage. There will be no better feeling in the world than having my hand raised on October 20.”

What can the fans expect from you on October 20?
“The fans can expect an explosive, entertaining, all action fight! I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I win this fight. This has been my dream for many, many years and I will not let this opportunity slip.”

Did you watch Inoue-Payano, and what do you think of it?
“Yes, I watched the Inoue v Payano fight. Obviously, Payano got caught early, which can happen, this is boxing but right now my only focus is Emmanuel Rodriguez and becoming the new IBF World Champion.”

The second Ali Trophy quarter-final bout of the huge night of boxing in Orlando, Florida is a cruiserweight clash between Cuban Yunier Dorticos and Poland’s Mateusz Masternak.

Tickets for the WBSS Quarter-Finals – Rodriguez vs Moloney & Dorticos vs Masternak – starting from $30 (plus fees) are on sale at TicketMaster.com.

Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals:
1. October 7th, Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Naoya Inoue (Japan) beat Juan Carlos Payano (Dominican Republic) – KO 1:10 of the first round
WBA ‘Regular’ Bantamweight Championship
&
Kiryl Relikh (Belarus) beat Eduard Troyanovsky (Russia) – UD 115-113 (x3)
WBA Super-Lightweight Championship

2. October 13th, Ekaterinburg Expo, Ekaterinburg, Russia – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Zolani Tete (South Africa) vs Mikhail Aloyan (Russia) – UD 114-111, 114-111 & 114-11
WBO Bantamweight World Championship
&
Andrew Tabiti (USA) vs Ruslan Fayfer (Russia) – UD 116-11, 115-112 & 114-11
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final

3. October 20th, CFE Arena, Orlando, USA – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Jason Moloney (Australia)
IBF Bantamweight Championship
&
Yunier Dorticos (Cuba) vs. Mateusz Masternak (Poland).
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final
TICKETS: From $30 (plus fees) here: TicketMaster.com

4. October 27th, U.N.O. Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, USA – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Regis Prograis (United States) vs. Terry Flanagan (England)
WBC Super-Lightweight Diamond Title
&
Ivan Baranchyk (Belarus) vs Anthony Yigit (Sweden)
IBF Super-Lightweight Championship
TICKETS: From $30 (plus fees) here: TicketMaster.com

5. November 3rd, SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Ryan Burnett (Northern Ireland) vs. Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
WBA ‘Unified’ Bantamweight Championship & WBC Bantamweight Diamond Title
&
Josh Taylor (Scotland) vs. Ryan Martin (United States)
WBC Super-Lightweight Silver Title
TICKETS: From £35 (plus fees) here: thessehydro.com

6. November 10th, UIC Pavilion in Chicago, USA – Ali Trophy Quarter-Finals
Mairis Briedis vs. Noel Mikaelian
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final
&
Krzysztof Glowacki vs. Maksim Vlasov
Cruiserweight Quarter-Final
TICKETS: From $30 (plus fees) here: TicketMaster.com (On sale: Mon 1 Oct)

Season II divisions and Ali Trophy quarter-final match-ups:
Bantamweight:
Ryan Burnett (Northern Ireland) vs. Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
WBA ‘Unified’ World Championship and WBC Diamond Title
Zolani Tete (South Africa) vs. Mikhail Aloyan (Russia) – Tete W UD
WBO World Championship
Naoya Inoue (Japan) vs. Juan Carlos Payano (Dominican Republic) – Inoue W KO1
WBA ‘Regular’ World Championship
Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Jason Moloney (Australia)
IBF World Championship
Super-Lightweight:
Regis Prograis (United States) vs. Terry Flanagan (England)
WBC Diamond Title
Josh Taylor (Scotland) vs. Ryan Martin (United States)
WBC Silver Title
Kiryl Relikh (Belarus) vs. Eduard Troyanovsky (Russia) – Relikh W UD12
WBA World Championship
Ivan Baranchyk (Belarus) vs. Anthony Yigit (Sweden)
IBF World Championship
Cruiserweight:
Mairis Briedis (Latvia) vs. Noel Mikaelian (Germany)
Yunier Dorticos (Cuba) vs. Mateusz Masternak (Poland)
Krzysztof Glowacki (Poland) vs. Maksim Vlasov (Russia)
Ruslan Fayfer (Russia) vs. Andrew Tabiti (United States) – Tabiti W UD
IBF Eliminator