LAS VEGAS SHOWDOWN
THE Tweed Coast’s boxing twins Andrew and Jason Moloney have arrived in Las Vegas ready to make an impact when the sport resumes, after receiving exemptions to travel to the US. Andrew (left), the WBA super flyweight world champion, and Jason, who is ranked in the top five of the bantamweight division by all four major organisations, are both expected to fight on a Top Rank card.
THE Tweed Coast’s boxing twins Andrew and Jason Moloney have arrived in Las Vegas ready to make an impact when the sport resumes, after receiving exemptions to travel to the US.
Andrew, the WBA super flyweight world champion, and twin Jason, who is ranked in the top five of the bantamweight division by all four major organisations, are both expected to fight on a Top Rank card.
Legendary promoter Bob Arum has spoken about staging a show before the end of June and is expected to make announcements about dates, venues and fights shortly.
Top Rank contacted the Moloneys’ manager Tony Tolj on Monday last week asking how soon he could get the brothers to America and they surprised the organisation with their quick arrival amid the coronavirus travel restrictions.
Tolj went through a migration agent and was told the process could take anywhere from two or three days to three weeks.
It turned out to be the former, with the Kingscliff-based siblings’ world-class boxing status enabling them to get a clearance.
“If Andrew wasn’t the world champion and Jason wasn’t the WBO No.2 (contender) we wouldn’t have got the exemptions,” Tolj said. “I rang the boys on the Thursday and said ‘pack your stuff’.
“I got the flights ready for Friday. We had to go to Sydney overnight there and then Sydney to San Francisco, and San Francisco to Las Vegas.
“Everyone in the Top Rank staff can’t understand, (saying) ‘it’s a miracle that you guys have been able to get in the country when we can’t even get Mexicans and Canadians’.”
The Moloneys were due some good fortune after both had US fights in March cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis just a few days before they were due to leave.
Tolj said Andrew’s first defence may not be against Mexican Israel Gonzalez, who he had been scheduled to fight in March.