Junior welterweight Anthony Yigit and bantamweight Jason Moloney, who both turned in admirable performances in losses fighting for world titles in World Boxing Super Series quarterfinal bouts in October, are both on the comeback trail.
Yigit (21-1-1, 7 KOs), 27, a southpaw from Sweden, will return to face Mohamed Khalladi (10-7-1, 5 KOs), 30, of Italy in an eight-round fight on Feb. 16 at CGM Arena in Koblenz, Germany, Team Sauerland has announced.
Moloney (17-1, 14 KOs), 28, of Australia, gets back to business on March 30. He will face Cris Paulino (19-3, 8 KOs), 26, of the Philippines, in a 10-round fight at Seagulls Stadium in Tweeds Heads, Australia, manager Tony Tolj said.
Yigit squared off with Ivan Baranchyk for a vacant 140-pound world title on Oct. 27 in New Orleans and fought gamely in an action-packed fight until a seventh-round technical knockout loss. Yigit suffered a grotesquely swollen left eye and fought on as long as he could until the fight was stopped on advice of the ringside doctor. Photos of Yigit’s eye, which was swollen completely shut, went viral.
“The ring is where I feel at home, so I can’t wait to get back, especially in Germany as I’ve always had great support from the German fans,” Yigit said. “I’ve learned a lot since my fight with Baranchyk. We’ve studied what went wrong and looked at what could’ve gone better. We also saw a lot of good things that we have developed on and improved even further.
“I got an amazing reception after the fight. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring home a win, but I did win many fans that night. They really like the way I fought. The irony is that it was my swollen eye that got me famous worldwide, and now that it’s healed, I don’t think people will recognize me anymore, so I’ve got to make sure I get famous for my boxing next time.”
Moloney challenged Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodriguez for his 118-pound world title on Oct. 20 in Orlando, Florida, and lost an extremely close split decision: 115-113, 115-113 for Rodriguez and 115-113 for Moloney. Now Moloney is ready to work his way back for another chance to fight for a world title.
“I absolutely loved being involved in the WBSS,” Moloney said. “Obviously, we didn’t [get] the result we wanted, which was devastating, but to represent Australia in the biggest tournament in world boxing and to fight for a world title was very special and something I will never forget.
“To lose a split decision by just one round was heartbreaking, but I believed I showed that I belong at the top of the division. I learned a lot from this fight. I’m even hungrier and I just can’t wait for another chance at a world title. Cris Paulino is a very solid fighter who I believe will provide a solid test and certainly come here to win. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get my chance and to become world champion.”