IBF orders a Super Flyweight World Title Eliminator between No.5 Cortes and No.6 Moloney　

The IBF has ordered a Super Flyweight World Title Eliminator between No. 5 ranked Argie Cortes (Mexico) — 27 wins (11 KOs), 4 losses, 2 draws — and No. 6 ranked Andrew Moloney (Australia) — 27 wins (17 KOs), 4 losses, 1 no contest. Both camps have expressed their willingness to participate and are currently in negotiations. If no agreement is reached by May 15 (May 16 JST), the fight will go to purse bid.

The IBF World Super Flyweight title was contested on December 21 last year at Twin Messe Shizuoka between No. 3 Willibaldo Garcia (Mexico) — 22 wins (13 KOs), 5 losses, 2 draws — and No. 4 Rene Calixto (Mexico) — 23 wins (9 KOs), no losses, 1 draw — as the top two spots were vacant. However, the bout ended in a 12-round draw, leaving the title vacant.

The IBF ordered a rematch, and during the purse bid held on February 12 (February 13 JST), Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions won the promotional rights with a sole bid of $151,100 (approx. ¥22.8 million). The purse will be split evenly, with both fighters receiving $75,550 (approx. ¥11.4 million).

The rematch between Garcia and Calixto is scheduled to take place on May 23 (May 24 JST) in Zacatecas, Mexico. The winner of the Cortes vs. Moloney eliminator will become the mandatory challenger for the new champion crowned in that bout.

Cortes, who fights under Fernando Beltran’s Zanfer Promotions, suffered two losses in his first four professional bouts. However, he gained recognition in September 2022 when he faced former world champion Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico) — 44 wins (28 KOs), 4 losses — and put up a strong performance despite being knocked down, ultimately losing by close decision (113–114, 112–115, 112–115).

On September 18, 2023, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Argie Cortes challenged the undefeated Junto Nakatani (M.T), who held the WBO World Super Flyweight Title with a record of 30 wins (23 KOs). Despite being knocked down three times, Cortes showed great resilience and fought through all 12 rounds, ultimately losing by decision.

Following his loss to Nakatani, Cortes faced former world-ranked fighter Victor Emmanuel Olivo (Mexico) — 21 wins (9 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw — on January 20 last year (January 21 JST) in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Olivo had previously traveled to Japan in November 2018, where he lost by 2nd round TKO to Ryuichi Funai (Watanabe) in an IBF world title eliminator.

Cortes controlled the fight from the start, fending off Olivo’s late rally to win by unanimous decision with scores of 98–92, 98–92, and 96–94, marking a successful comeback. In August, he defeated former WBC Latin champion Salvador Juárez (Mexico) — 20 wins (4 KOs), 9 losses, 2 draws — by 9th-round TKO.

Former WBA World Super Flyweight Champion Andrew Moloney faced Junto Nakatani in a bout for the vacant WBO World Super Flyweight Title on May 20, 2023 (May 21 JST) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Moloney was knocked down in the 2nd and 11th rounds and suffered a devastating KO loss in the final round from a sharp left counter by Nakatani.

On May 12 last year, Moloney fought Pedro Guevara (Mexico) — 42 wins (22 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw — in Perth, Australia, at RAC Arena for the WBC interim title. He lost via split decision and, dissatisfied with the result, announced his retirement in the ring after the fight.

However, Moloney later reversed his retirement. On December 15, he made a successful comeback in Melbourne, Australia, by knocking out Jakrawut Majungoen (Thailand) — 48 wins (27 KOs), 7 losses, 2 draws — in the 3rd round.

Moloney was briefly considered as the opponent for WBO World Champion in the same division, Sivenathi Nontshinga (South Africa) — 11 wins (8 KOs), 0 losses, 3 draws — after a proposed bout with Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (Nicaragua) — 52 wins (42 KOs), 4 losses — fell through. However, Nontshinga is now set to defend his title against WBC Super Flyweight Champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (USA/Teiken) — 21 wins (14 KOs), no losses — on July 19 (July 20 JST) at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.

Now 34, Moloney has shifted his focus to the IBF title and is seeking a path back to becoming a world champion.

Moloney’s new target is definitely something to watch!

This article has been translated and published with permission from BOXING MASTER.

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