Jason Moloney vs Saul Sanchez Preview January 13th, 2024
WBO Bantamweight Champion Jason Moloney of Australia defends the title for the first time when he takes on Saul Sanchez of Encino, California this Saturday, January 13th. The 12-round fight from Quebec City, Canada can be seen live in America on ESPN and ESPN+ while UK and Irish fans can see it on Sky Sports Arena. Moloney last fought in May when he beat Vincent Astrolabio via a majority decision in a rather dull affair to win the vacant title. Sanchez last boxed in October when he beat RV Deniega by an eight-round unanimous decision. The fight can be seen on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith clash.
Moloney vs Sanchez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Saul Sanchez +275
- Jason Moloney -375
My Pick
The 32-year-old Moloney enters the ring with a mark of 26-2 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 162 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 73.1 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage but has gone the distance in four of his last five fights.
He had won four straight contests by stoppage until running into ‘The Monster’ Inoue from Japan however. Besides Rodriguez, Inoue and possibly Greer, Moloney hasn’t really fought any other world-class opponents but handled himself well in his three world title shots, especially against Rodriguez in October, 2018 when the fight could have gone either way for the IBF Title. Moloney stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 65-inch reach and also has wins over Leonardo Baez and Dixon Flores. He’s a solid pro who finally got over the hump when it comes to winning a world belt by edging Astrolabio.
As for Sanchez, he’s 26 years old and has fought 106 rounds since making his pro debut in 2016. As an amateur he reached the 2013 USA Junior National Championships Quarterfinals and the 2014 USA Youth National Championships Quarterfinals. He makes the ring walk with a mark of 20-2 with 12 Ko’s and has captured the vacant WBO Latino Bantamweight title as a pro with an eighth-round stoppage of Brandon Leon Benitez in 2019. Sanchez has also won the vacant WBA Fedecentro Bantamweight and Super Bantamweight Titles during his career.
Sanchez measures 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 66-inch reach which means he’s the same height as Moloney with a minimal once-inch edge in reach. His first pro loss came at the hands of Edwin Rodriguez by 10-round split decision in 2019 and his second defeat was to Eros Correa by 10-round split decision in 2022. His biggest wins have come against Ernesto Guerrero, Daniel Lozano, Mario Hernandez, Frank Gonzalez, Jose Estrella and Franklin Gonzalez. Sanchez isn’t known as a power puncher but 60 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s gone the distance in two of his last three outings.
Prediction…
Both boxers have fine skills with Moloney having more of a relentless style but he wasn’t at his best against Astrolabio even though he won the title. Moloney needs to improve on that performance or Sanchez could surprise him. If Moloney lets his hands go like he’s capable of doing and his chin holds up I’m expecting him to defend his belt in a close fight.
Moloney’s experience against stiffer opposition should make the difference.
Play: Moloney -375 @ BetOnline.ag
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Jason Moloney betting • Saul Sanchez betting