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Moloney raring to go in world title fight

3 minute read

Melbourne boxer Andrew Moloney says his preparation for next week's WBA world interim super flyweight fight against Elton Dharry couldn't have been better.

He already has a Commonwealth Games gold medal in his keeping but Andrew Moloney says he's in the shape of his life as he looks to win a boxing world title next week.

The 28-year-old will take on US-based Elton Dharry for the WBA interim super flyweight title next Friday night following the "Code War" between AFL great Barry Hall and former rugby league champion Paul Gallen.

Andrew's twin brother Jason Moloney, who challenged for the world bantamweight title last year, will fight Nicaragua's world No. 10 Dixon Flores on the same card at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena.

"I know a lot of people say before a fight they feel like everything's fallen into place but I really feel like I'm in the best shape of my life and boxing the best I ever have," Andrew Moloney told AAP.

"My preparation's been excellent, really good sparring and my weight's on track.

"I've been ready to fight now for a couple of weeks."

Andrew's record is 20-0 (13 KOs) including a WBA world title eliminator in March when he travelled to Chile and knocked out hometown hero Miguel Angel Gonzalez in the eighth round.

He also knocked out Tanzanian Selemani Bangaiza in the second round in June, while his Games gold came in Glasgow in 2014.

Dharry, who is from Guyana, is also no slouch, unbeaten in more than a decade.

"He's a very experienced boxer but I believe I've fought better opposition than what he has and I'm going to be too good for him," Moloney said.

"He's only had one fight in the last year and I think that might be a downfall for him as I've been very active so I will be too fit for him."

From Melbourne, Moloney said his career went up a notch when he switched to Danny Green's long-time trainer Angelo Hyder just over two years ago.

"I've gone to a completely new level training with Angelo," he said.

"It took a couple of fights to gel and know each other's style but I've improved with each fight and we're in a really good place now."

Moloney said he expects current WBA super flyweight champion Briton Khalid Yafai to line up for a unification fight in January.

"That means the WBA regular world title will become vacant then and when I win next Friday night, that interim title will then turn into the regular world title. So I'm fighting as if I am fighting for the world title," he said.

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