Although we don’t what the entire field will be for the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament for now, we do know one particular matchup taking place.
The World Boxing Super Series announced that undefeated boxer Jason Moloney has signed on to participate in the tournament. Moloney is the mandatory challenger to Emmanuel Rodriguez’s IBF world title and with Rodriguez also announced to compete in the tournament when the WBSS first made the bantamweight tourney official, Rodriguez will defend his title against Moloney in the quarterfinals. No date and venue has been announced for the IBF title fight.
The 25-year-old Rodriguez will be making his first world title defense after traveling overseas to win the vacant title by defeating Paul Butler in England back in May. Rodriguez is 18-0 with 12 of those wins coming by knockout.
Moloney will be challenging for his first world title after becoming one of the top rising contenders in the bantamweight division. Moloney has fought twice in 2018 already, both of those fights ending with Moloney winning in six rounds or less. Moloney’s last win came against former world champion Kohei Kono back in May to retain his WBA Oceania bantamweight title.
But Rodriguez won’t be the only world titleholder competing in the bantamweight tournament. WBA “super” champion Ryan Burnett and WBO champion Zolani Tete have also been announced for the tournament. WBA “regular” champion Naoya Inoue is also expected to participate in the tournament. More details surrounding the bantamweight tournament, as well as details on the other two tournaments the WBSS is having this upcoming second season, will be announced soon.
