Andrew Moloney vs Froilan Saludar Preview Dec. 21st 2021
The vacant WBO Oriental Super Flyweight title is on the line this Tuesday, December 21st in Sydney, Australia when local favourite Andrew Moloney takes Froilan Saludar of the Philippines. The 10-round bout will reportedly be shown on Fox Sports Australia and on ESPN+ in America. Moloney last fought in August when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Joshua Franco in a rematch for the WBA Super Flyweight Title. Franco won their first meeting by close unanimous decision in 2020 and the first rematch saw Franco retain the title after the fight was ruled a no-decision in the second round when Franco claimed he couldn’t continue after suffering a phantom head butt. Saludar last saw action in March when he beat Reymark Taday by an eight-round unanimous decision.
Moloney vs Saludar Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Friolan Saludar +800
- Andrew Moloney -1500
My Pick
The 30-year-old Moloney of Mitcham, Australia enters the ring with a mark of 21-2 with 14 Kos. He’s boxed 144 rounds since making his pro debut in 2014 and has pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 58.3 per cent. He had won four straight fights by stoppage until running into Franco the first time and he stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a wingspan of 65 inches.
Since turning pro after a fine amateur career, Moloney has also captured several Australian, Oceania and Commonwealth belts in the bantamweight and junior bantamweight divisions. So far, Moloney’s biggest wins have been against the likes of Miguel Gonzalez, Selemani Bangaiza, Luis Concepcion, Rene Dacquel, Aramis Solis and Raymond Tabugon with Franco being the only man to beat him.
Saludar is a 32-year-old who owns a record of 32-4-1 with 22 Kos and he’s been stopped in three of his four losses. He’s boxed 181 rounds since turning pro in 2009 and also has better-than-average power with a current knockout ratio of 59.5 per cent. He’s also 5-feet-5-inches tall and his 67-inch reach gives him a two-inch edge in reach on Moloney.
Saludar’s losses came at the hands of McWilliams Arroyo in the second round in 2014, Takuma Inoue by 10-round unanimous decision in 2016, Sho Kimura by sixth-round KO in 2018 and to Ryoji Fukunaga by seventh round stoppage in 2020. The fight against Kimura was for the WBO Flyweight Title and the bout against Fukunaga was for the WBO Asia Pacific Title. Saludar’s lone draw was a technical decision against Brian Dano in 2010.
Since turning pro, Saludar has captured the WBO Youth, WBO Asia Pacific Youth, and the WBO Asia Pacific Flyweight Titles as well as the WBO Oriental interim and WBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight Crowns. Saludar went unbeaten in his first 20 pro outings which were all in the Philippines while all four of his losses have been on the road.
Prediction…
Moloney showed he was a world class boxer with a lot of heart against Franco but luck wasn’t on his side. He’s not taking on an easy touch here as Saludar has plenty of experience against some tough foes such as McWilliams Arroyo, Takuma Inoue, Sho Kimura and Ryoji Fukunaga, but he did lose to all of them. Saludar is stepping up in class again this week and he’s also on the road. I’m expecting Moloney to win in an entertaining tilt.
I’ll go with a motivated Moloney here.
Play Moloney -1500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Andrew Moloney betting • Froilan Saludar betting