On June 6 in Tokoname, Japan, at the Aichi Sky Expo, a super flyweight title fight that was supposed to happen half a year ago will finally take place. Reigning IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia will at last make the first defense of his belt — against Australian Andrew Moloney, the mandatory challenger who has waited too long for this chance to let it slip away.
The story of this fight is the story of two men who arrived at this showdown by different roads, but with the same feeling that time is running out.
A champion who was never quite a champion
Garcia won the IBF title a year ago — on May 23, 2025, in a tense rematch against his countryman Rene Calixto. Their first bout in late 2024 ended in a split draw. In the rematch the judges were divided once again, but this time in Garcia's favor. It was a close contest: 116-112 and 115-113 for Garcia, and 115-113 for Calixto from the three ringside judges.
Since then, Garcia hasn't fought once. His December defense against Japan's Kenshiro Teraji collapsed at the last moment. The Mexican fell ill right after the weigh-in and was hospitalized. They say the problem was the weight cut, which was a shame — many had expected that bout to be in the running for one of the standout matchups of the card. Now Garcia comes into the June 6 fight with a year-long gap in his career. Won't that layoff leave him looking rusty?
Garcia is a late bloomer. He made his debut in 2017 at the age of 28. His first bout was a win, then came a run of setbacks. Willibaldo lost four fights and had one more ruled a no-contest. His record after the debut: 2-4-1. But everything changed after that. This is a story about persistence, grit, and great faith in oneself.
A challenger who came back from retirement
Andrew Moloney is the opposite story. The twin brother of former WBO champion Jason Moloney, and himself a former WBA Regular super flyweight titleholder, the Australian boasts a résumé Garcia might envy: 28-4 with 18 knockouts, and a stoppage percentage that also tops the champion's — 64.29% against 56.52%.
But Moloney has lived through his own breaking point too. After a painful split-decision loss to Pedro Guevara in mid-2024, he announced his retirement. The retirement didn't last long — already in December of that year the Australian returned, stopping Jakrawut Majungoen in the third round, then adding a win over Pawan Kumar Arya.
It seems 35 is late for a division like this. But boxing has been growing up lately — many champions preserve their health for a later career. Andrew wants to join that successful list too.
It was precisely the mandatory challenger status (Moloney is ranked No. 3 by the IBF) that made this fight inevitable. Promoter Matchroom tried to buy the Australian off, offering step-aside money to set up a unification bout between Garcia and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez for undisputed status. Moloney refused. He didn't want money — he wanted the belt. And a shot at Jesse, should he win.
What's at stake
The promotion was won by Japan's Kameda Promotions, with a purse bid of $315,000 — beating Manny Pacquiao Promotions and their $275,000. The fight is set to be broadcast on YouTube.
But the real stakes are bigger than one belt. The winner steps onto the same timeline as Jesse Rodriguez, the division's undisputed champion (WBA, WBC, WBO, The Ring). Rodriguez himself plans to return in June, and a unification bout for all the super flyweight belts is the logical next step for whoever survives June 6.
Stylistically, this should be an action-packed affair. Both fighters don't spare their opponents, boldly enter exchanges, and work in combinations. Moloney looks like the more refined boxer on the attack. He picks his shots more precisely, hunts for his openings. But won't he get drawn into the exchanges the Mexican will surely offer — and lean on?
The numbers
Physically the fighters are practically even: Garcia at 163 cm, Moloney at 165 cm, both orthodox. The age gap is minimal (36 to 35). The main difference is in punching power (18 to 13 in the Australian's favor) and freshness: Moloney fought in November 2025, while Garcia hasn't stepped into the ring in over a year.