Unretired Aussie wants world title by NYE

2 days ago

Unretired Australian boxer Andrew Moloney is promising a world title by year's end as he prepares for a Mexican debut against Argi Cortes.
The veterans will wage an IBF super flyweight eliminator war in Durango on August 9, three weeks later than it was initially scheduled for in Monterrey.
Moloney (27-4) furiously declared he was quitting the sport after losing a controversial points decision to Pedro Guevara, for the interim WBC super flyweight title, in Perth last May.
But the former secondary WBA belt holder, 34 and 11 years on from his professional debut, had a change of heart and is now two wins away from his biggest boxing moment.
"This is a must-win," he told AAP after landing in Mexico.
Moloney is 6-2 since losing his controversial Joshua Franco trilogy that began in the MGM Grand's Las Vegas bubble due to COVID-19 in 2020.
"It's been years of hard work to get back to this position and I won't let this opportunity slip," he said.
"I will be world champion again before the end of 2025.
"I'm extremely excited about this fight.
"I'm on fire in the gym at the moment and preparation has been perfect.
"Cortes is a good, well-rounded fighter.
"He can box and can brawl when he needs to, but I believe his style suits me perfectly and believe I am better than him in every department."
Cortes (27-4-2) has only once fought outside of Mexico, taking Junto Nakatani the distance for the first time in a 2023 title bout months after the Japanese star had delivered Moloney a brutal final-round knockout.
The victor next month will be next in line to face fellow Mexican Willibaldo Garcia, who edged countryman Rene Calixto to claim the vacant IBF crown in May.
"He puts a lot of pressure on his opponents but he definitely has holes in his game," Moloney said of the IBF champion.
"That is a fight I'm very confident of winning but I can't look past Cortes yet.
"I enjoy going to enemy territory and fighting in my opponents' backyard.
"I have never been to Mexico and all of my favourite fighters are Mexican so I'm looking forward to the experience."

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Ryan Daniels: Inside Harley Reid's contract talks and the multi-million dollar offers on the table

West Australian

an hour ago

West Australian

Ryan Daniels: Inside Harley Reid's contract talks and the multi-million dollar offers on the table

It wasn't quite high-powered Wall Street execs in Armani suits, marching in to close a billion-dollar deal — but the stakes, in a footy sense, were just as high. Harley's Melbourne-based manager Nick Geischen rolled into town, and while he didn't utter the words 'Show Me the Money', he didn't need to. The phrase was emanating from his $24 million smile. It's been a hectic week in Harley-world, with a somewhat surprising shift in the situation. Earlier this year, the Eagles put forward multiple contract options to Harley's team. Three, five, seven-year deals — a pick-your-own-adventure approach. Nothing came of it. which had people thinking — he's gone. Even before the Eagles drafted him, there was talk Harley would bail. That the Eagles would be better off trading the pick. Victorian journalist Sam McLure now famously declared 'they won't pick him, Mitch (Cleary)' — suggesting West Coast would be better off passing on one of the most prodigious talents the draft has seen in years — just to avoid the inevitable messy exit. It's always been perceived as a matter of when Harley will leave, not if . Then, the twist. Geischen had come bearing gifts — a proposal for West Coast. An 11-year deal. $2.2 million per year, on average. $24 million all up. The largest deal in AFL history. More money per year than Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins. Unprecedented numbers across the board. While it sounds like monopoly money, in 11 years, $2.2 million won't be as crazy as it sounds right now. By then, Harley will be 32 and potentially edging out of his prime — but with the growth of the AFL's salary cap, he might end up a bargain at some stage. Remember, back in 1994 Alastair Lynch signed a ten-year deal for $1 million — at $100,000 per season, people lost their minds at the money. By the time Lynch retired, he was woefully underpaid. As part of this proposed deal, Harley would have the option to leave after two years. If not, he'd be here until the end of 2037. Let that sink in. In 2037 we might actually have flying cars and robot slaves. Or we'll be slaves to the robots. I'll be 54 years old. Bring me a pair of warm slippers, a glass of prune juice, and cap it off with a few episodes of Murder She Wrote. Maybe my idea of what it's like to be 54 is a little dated — but you get the point — 2037 is an eternity away. Harley's people bringing this to the table signals his intention to stay — if terms can be agreed. So, what's changed? Nothing, really. All along we've heard Harley, the Eagles, even his management declare the young midfielder was taking his time, happy in Perth. In recent weeks Reid's form has elevated, he's exhibiting an edge, leadership around the club. He's forming strong bonds with teammates. My understanding is he's told Andrew McQualter he wants to stay. At 20, he's living on his own, cooking, cleaning, he's got a dog. He's handling the media/fan pressure superbly. Some 20-year-olds can barely remember to flush the toilet. This kid is settled. Credit to the Eagles for an environment where a country kid from the other side of Australia feels comfortable, happy. Saying that, nothing is guaranteed here. The new proposal isn't quite a gun to the head, an ultimatum — but it's not miles off it. This is how keeping Harley Reid looks. If that's too rich, there will be other suitors. It's a fairly simple situation — other than the overwhelming commitment. That's the holdup, if there is one. No one saw this coming. Not even the Eagles. The deal, or at least the sheer enormity of it, has blindsided West Coast. They've taken a pause. In the month following the contract proposal landing in their inbox, there's been no response. Some meals take a lot longer to digest, and this is like going to a steak joint and being served an entire cow. Don't panic Eagles fans, they know what they have in Harley. They love him. If they believe they've found the sun which all other planets can rotate around, that he could be their Dustin Martin, their Patrick Dangerfield, then they need to do it. Maybe it's a slight variation of this proposed deal, a happy compromise, but they can't get too cute here. Harley could be the AFL's best player within a few years. Yes, a deal that long, with that kind of financial commitment comes with risk. In my opinion, it's a risk worth taking. This kid is special. He wants to be here and he's box office. After a disastrous four years at the West Coast Eagles, the signature of Harley Reid would be a significant victory and a sign that things might finally be turning around. Years of endless chat about a move back to Victoria for Harley, now the Eagles have a chance to keep their man. They just need to sign on the dotted line.