Tenshin Nasukawa vs Jason Moloney Preview Feb. 24th, 2025
Japan’s unbeaten Tenshin Nasukawa tangles with former WBO Bantamweight Champion Jason Moloney of Australia this Monday, Feb. 24th. The 10-round bantamweight tilt from Tokyo can be seen live in America on ESPN+ with the card starting at 3am ET while fans in the UK and Ireland can catch it on Sky Sports Action at 8 am. Nasukawa last entered the ring in October when he beat Gerwin Asilo by a 10-round unanimous decision to take the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight Crown. Moloney’s last fight resulted in a unanimous decision defeat to Yoshiki Takei in a shot at the WBO Bantamweight Belt.
Nasukawa vs Moloney Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Jason Moloney +210
- Tenshin Nasukawa -270
My Pick
Nasukawa is 26 years old and carries around a perfect record of 5-0 with 2 Ko’s and has lost just two rounds on the judges’ scorecards out of the 30 he’s boxed since turning pro in September, 2023. The former former professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist and is generally regarded as one of the greatest ever modern kickboxers. He became famous after his KO wins over former IBF orld boxing champion Amnat Ruenroeng in 2017 and Muay Thai champion Wanchalong PK Saenchaigym a year earlier. Nasukawa won numerous titles in kickboxing and retired from the sport in July 2022.
The southpaw, who is an excellent counterpuncher, made his pro debut in April, 2023 when he beat Yuki Yonaha by six round unanimous decision. He beat Luis Guzman Torres via an eight-round unanimous decision five months later and then stopped Luis Robles Pacheco after three rounds. He took another step up in class last July and halted Jonathan Rodriguez in the third stanza. Nasukawa measures 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 69.5-inch reach but doesn’t have overwhelming power as just 40 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage.
The 34-year-old Moloney enters the ring with a mark of 27-3 with 19 Ko’s. His first defeat came at the hands of IBF World Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico in October, 2018 when he dropped a split decision and he was stopped by Naoya Inoue in the seventh round in October, 2020 in a shot at the WBA Super World, and IBF Bantamweight Titles. Moloney turned pro in 2014 after an amateur career and has boxed 186 rounds since. As a pro, he won the vacant Oriental and Pacific WBA Silver Super Bantamweight Title in 2017 and the vacant British Commonwealth Bantamweight Title in 2018.
Moloney added the vacant WBC Silver Bantamweight Belt in August, 2021 when he beat Joshua Greer Jr by a 10-round unanimous decision and then the vacant WBO International Bantamweight Crown in June, 2022 when he stopped Aston Palicte in the third round. Moloney has displayed solid power up to now as 70.4 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage but has gone the distance in six of his last seven fights. He had won four straight contests by stoppage until running into ‘The Monster’ Inoue from Japan however.
Moloney handled himself well in his first two world title shots, especially against Rodriguez when the fight could have gone either way for the IBF Belt. He finally won a world title in May, 2023 when he beat Vincent Astrolabio by majority decision for the vacant WBO Crown. He defended it by majority decision over Saul Sanchez but lost it the last time out against Takei. Moloney stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 65-inch reach so gives up 4.5-inches in reach to Nasukawa. He also has wins over Leonardo Baez and Dixon Flores.
Prediction…
Nasukawa is new to the boxing ring but has plenty of experience in combat sports. Moloney has a lot of heart and experience and should give Nasukawa his toughest test in the boxing ring. Considering Nasukawa is fighting at home, is eight years younger and has some fine skills he’s the betting favourite in this contest. However, whoever lets his hands go the most and shows he wants to win it will have the edge. This is a close call but I’m leaning towards Nasukawa due to his overall fighting experience.
A tossup with Nasukawa having a slight edge.
Play: Nasukawa -270 @ BetOnline.ag
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Jason Moloney betting • Tenshin Nasukawa betting