Australian boxer Andrew Moloney is brutally knocked out with just 18 seconds left in the world title fight.
- WBO junior bantamweight belt was on the line
- Aussie survived two knockdowns for KO
- Was first dropped by uppercut in the second round
A match Andrew Moloney couldn’t match his twin brother Jason’s world title as he was brutally knocked out in the 12th round by Japan’s Junto Nakatani in Las Vegas.
Moloney showed great toughness to get within 18 seconds of going the distance. after being knocked down in the second and eleventh rounds of Saturday’s fight for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title
Just when it looked like the 32-year-old Australian would last 12 rounds, he was tagged with a perfect left hook to the head.
“That was as brutal as you’ll ever see,” said one of the fight commentators, and it was impossible to disagree.
“That was devastating,” said commentator Joe Tessitore from ringside.
Moloney (right) was put down in the 12th round with a devastating left hand and was so badly injured by the punch that the referee didn’t bother to start counting
Top boxing commentator Joe Tessitore immediately called for medical attention for the stricken Aussie as he crashed motionless against the canvas (pictured)
“He is brutally constructed. They need immediate medical attention. Incredible blow. It was like a human gun going off.”
The referee didn’t even bother counting as Moloney crashed into the canvas and needed some time and help to get back on his feet.
Australian boxing commentator Ben Damon said Moloney perforated both eardrums during the fight in a tweet shortly after the knockout and that the boxer was rushed to University Medical Center for post-fight evaluation.
Moloney received an uppercut early in the second half, but quickly got back to his feet.
Just over a minute into the 11th, he was knocked down by a straight left and simply beat the count.
Pre-fight favorite Nakatani 25-0 (19 KOs) enjoyed height and reach advantages and dominated as he managed to get some distance and land his hurtful uppercuts.
Moloney also reportedly perforated both of his eardrums during the fight
It wasn’t all one way as the Australian worked his way back into the fight and landed some good shots (pictured) after being knocked down in the second round
Moloney tried to emulate twin brother Jason Moloney’s victory in his WBO bantamweight title fight in Stockton, California seven days earlier.
The former WBA interim superflyweight champion was marked overhead by Nakatani in the second round.
An accidental head impact opened a cut on former WBO flyweight champion Nakatani’s left eye early in the third, but it played no part in the fight.
Moloney gradually worked his way into the fight in the fourth and began to land more regularly in the middle rounds, closing the distance and working his way in.
He did particularly well in the sixth, supporting his opponent and landing some good shots.
Moloney (25-3, 16 KOs) continued to score with some good shots from inside in the seventh, though Nakatani landed some decent punches as well.
Nakatani recovered from eighth and dictated for the rest of the fight, landing from a greater distance as Moloney had less success backing and pressure him.