Joshua Franco vs. Andrew Moloney – 6/23/20 Boxing Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Andrew Moloney and Joshua Franco fight Tuesday at the MGM Grand for the World Boxing Association World Super Fly Title. 

Andrew Moloney enters this fight with a 21-0 record that includes 14 knockouts. This will be Moloney’s fourth fight since 2019, and he’s coming off a November win over Elton Dharry. Moloney is coming off an eighth round finish to win the WBA interim super-flyweight title, and he’s finished each of his last four opponents. Moloney has yet to lose since turning pro in 2014, and he had a successful amateur career, which includes a gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Moloney is a 29-year-old Australian who stands at 5’5” and has an orthodox stance. Moloney is a sharp boxer who throws quick, crisp and accurate punches and does a wonderful job of working the entire body rather than just head hunting. Moloney does a good job of getting in and out with his shots, and he has terrific head movement that prevents him from ever taking considerable damage. Moloney has good footwork and this recent power surge shows there’s some pop behind those punches as well. Moloney has all of the tools to become a household name and a fight in the US could help get that ball rolling. This will be Moloney’s first career fight in the Untied States.

Joshua Franco enters this fight with a 16-1-2 record that includes eight knockouts. Franco has split his last six fights, and he’s coming off a January win over Jose Alejandro Burgos. Franco is coming off a ninth round TKO, and he’s now finished two of his last three victories. While he’s fought some decent opponents up to this point, this is easily the biggest fight of Franco’s career. Franco is a 24-year-old American who stands at 5’5”, has a 67-inch reach and an orthodox stance. Franco comes off as a defensive fighter who does a good job of keeping his hands up and rolling with the punches. Franco does some of his best work with counterpunches and has some sneaky pop despite his small frame. As Franco showed against Bryan Bazan, he can drop an opponent if the right shot lands cleanly. Franco likes to stay busy, he’s going to work his jab and he’s the type of fighter who gets better as the fight drags out. This will be Franco’s first career fight in Las Vegas.

Franco is no pushover, as he’s fought some respectable opponents up to this point and he has good company in his corner, including being trained by a champion in Robert Garcia. Franco has done well in a short amount of time and he has great potential over the next decade. The problem is Moloney is in a different class at this stage, as he puts his punches together so sharp, is solid defensively and he has a power advantage as well. Moloney has all of the tools to be the best boxer in this division and somebody who could soon be earning big paydays. Moloney has a top tier skill set and Franco just isn’t there yet at his young age.

Moloney cruises to victory in a one-sided unanimous decision.