Willibaldo Garcia vs. Andrew Moloney - June 6, 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF Orders Garcia-Moloney Purse Bid, Blocks Bam's Path To Undisputed

If Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez wants to become an undisputed junior bantamweight champion, he’ll have to wait.

The IBF officially scheduled a purse bid Tuesday for the bout between IBF 115-pound champion Willibaldo Garcia and third-ranked contender Andrew Moloney for March 5. The purse bid, which was first reported by Boxing Scene.com, could be canceled if representatives for Garcia and Moloney reach an agreement beforehand.

Australia’s Moloney is the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s junior bantamweight championship because, as is often the case with the IBF, the No. 1 and 2 spots in its rankings are vacant.

Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs) secured the IBF belt by winning a split decision against fellow Mexican Rene Calixto (24-1-1, 10 KOs) on May 23.

Perez was scheduled to defend his title against Kenshiro Teraji on “The Ring V: Night of the Samurai” card December 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An illness caused Garcia to withdraw from their bout, which was abruptly canceled December 26, after Garcia and Teraji made weight.

Teraji is the IBF’s fifth-ranked contender for Garcia’s belt. The IBF denied the petition that was filed on behalf of Japan’s Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) to have his fight with Garcia rescheduled next.

Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs) didn’t want to continue waiting to fight the Garcia-Teraji winner, which is why his fight against Garcia will happen next.

“Willibaldo was supposed to fight me in his first defense, but his team asked for an exemption to fight Teraji,” Moloney told The Ring last month. “The IBF let that fight go ahead as long as it was on December 27 and no later, with no more exemptions. That fight was obviously canceled, so Willibaldo will have to fight me next.”

The IBF mandated that Garcia must defend his title against Moloney no later than June 25.

Although Moloney, 35, is excited to get a shot at Perez’s red and gold belt, San Antonio’s Rodriguez is somewhere shaking his head. The 26-year-old star, ranked No. 4 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, added Fernando Martinez’s WBA strap to his Ring, WBC and WBO 115-pound crowns November 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Immediately after stopping Martinez in the 10th round, Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) expressed interest in facing Garcia to become an undisputed champion. Moloney has said time and time again, however, since the IBF named him its mandatory challenger that he would not step aside to allow Rodriguez to face Garcia, even if Moloney were guaranteed a shot at the winner.

[Evander]

I'm all ears
Why would they do this ?
They are going to bypass a real unification all the belts on the line fight against Bam

[Evander]

Did Bam put in an offer to box Willibaldo ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Willibaldo Garcia-Andrew Moloney IBF title fight set for April

Willibaldo Garcia will defend his IBF junior bantamweight title against mandatory challenger Andrew Moloney.
At Thursday's purse bid, Kameda Promotions won the rights to the fight with a bid of $315,000, out-bidding Pacquiao Promotions offer of $275,100.

As champion, Garcia, will receive 85 percent of the purse, which is $267,750, while Moloney's 15 percent equates to $47,250.
While no date has been given it is believed that fight could land in either Japan or Kyrgyzstan in April.

Interestingly, Kameda Promotions' co-partner, SAIKOU LUSH Boxing Promotions, are staging a three-day extravaganza at the Gazprom Sports Complex, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 17, 18 and 19.

It is believed Matchroom made overtures to Moloney, the IBF mandatory challenger, to step aside to allow The Ring WBA, WBC and WBO titlist Jesse Rodriguez and IBF counterpart Garcia to fight for the undisputed championship, but it was rebuffed by the Australian challenger.

The offer is believed to have been more than the purse Moloney will now receive but the opportunity to fight for the world title seemingly meant more than money.

Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs), rated No. 7 by The Ring at junior bantamweight, lost three of his first five but reeled off eight wins before narrowly losing to future WBC bantamweight titlist Alexandro Santiago (MD 10) and former two-time bantamweight beltholder Paul Butler (SD 10).

The 36-year-old won 10 fights to earn a fight for the vacant IBF title against Bibiano (D 12) and edged in in a rematch (SD 12) last May.

Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs), is rated two places higher than the defending champion at No. 5 in The Ring ratings at 115-pounds, was a seasoned amateur and won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth games.

The Australian came up short in a three-fight series with then WBA titlist Franco (UD 12/ ND 2/ UD 12). Four wins saw him well positioned to face Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO title but was knocked out in 11 rounds.

[Evander]

[giacomino]

The Moloney brothers must have really good management because they get a lot of title shots. Andrew has had four since losing his belt five years ago without winning any of them, and he’s beaten nobody to earn this latest shot.

[Evander]

It is believed Matchroom made overtures to Moloney, the IBF mandatory challenger, to step aside to allow The Ring WBA, WBC and WBO titlist Jesse Rodriguez and IBF counterpart Garcia to fight for the undisputed championship, but it was rebuffed by the Australian challenger.

The offer is believed to have been more than the purse Moloney will now receive but the opportunity to fight for the world title seemingly meant more than money.

Is what it is

[Evander]

I've digested this a few times
Can't lie
I find it hard to believe
Why would they pass up on such a big fight
Willibaldo could have made decent money off of the spin offs of a Bam fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Has this one got a date?

[Ruthless-RKO]

GARCIA-MOLONEY, YABUKI-CALIXTO DOUBLEHEADER CONFIRMED FOR JUNE 6

At a press conference on Tuesday, in Japan, Kameda Promotions announced a world title doubleheader.

Willibaldo Garcia will defend his IBF junior bantamweight title against mandatory challenger Andrew Moloney, while Masamichi Yabuki will put his IBF flyweight belt on the line when he faces Rene Calixto at the Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, Aichi, Japan.

Kameda Promotions won the rights to Garcia-Moloney in March with a bid of $315,000 and opted to make the fight on this show.

Matchroom had tried to offer Moloney step aside money in an effort to make The Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO titlist Jesse Rodriguez and IBF titleholder Garcia to fight for the undisputed championship but that was rebuffed by Moloney.

Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs), rated No. 7 by The Ring at junior bantamweight, lost three of his first five but reeled off eight wins before narrowly losing to future WBC bantamweight titlist Alexandro Santiago (MD 10) and former two-time bantamweight beltholder Paul Butler (SD 10).

The 36-year-old won 10 fights to earn a fight for the vacant IBF title against Bibiano (D 12) and edged him in a rematch (SD 12) last May.

Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs), is rated two places higher than the defending champion at No. 5 in The Ring ratings at 115 pounds, was a seasoned amateur and won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth games. Has scored solid wins over Luis Concepcion (TKO 10), Miguel Gonzalez (TKO 8) and Elton Dharry (RTD 8).

The 35-year-old came up short in a three-fight series with then WBA titlist Franco (UD 12/ND 2/UD 12). Four wins saw him well positioned to face Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO title but was knocked out in 11 rounds. He returned with a win over Judy Flores (UD 10) but lost a heart-breaking decision to Pedro Guevara (SD 12) in May 2024. He has won two fights since and became the IBF mandatory when multiple pulls out caused a fight with Argi Cortes to fall out.

Meanwhile, Yabuki will make the second defense of his title against Calixto, who narrowly came up short in two fights with Garcia up at 115 pounds.

Yabuki (19-4, 18 KOs), rated at No. 2 by The Ring at flyweight, lost an early fight to future three-weight titlist Junto Nakatani (UD 4), future WBA flyweight titleholder Seigo Yuri Akui (TKO 1) and skilled Cuban Daniel Matellon (SD 8). The power-puncher upset Teraji (TKO 10) to win the WBC 108-pound title but was decisively dispatched in three rounds in a direct rematch.

He scored an impressive win over Thanongsak Simsri (TKO 7) and returned after ruptured his Achilles tendon to claim the IBF 108-pound title by stopping Sivenathi Nontshinga (TKO 9). He then headed to flyweight, at which he beat up Angel Ayala (TKO 12) to win the IBF belt and stopped Felix Alvarado (KO 12).

Bibiano (24-1-1, 10 KOs), who is rated No. 8 by The Ring up at junior bantamweight, made his debut in 2016. The 31-year-old won his first 23 fights with all bar two at home.

He most impressively he outboxed Sikho Nqothole (UD 10) in May 2024 before two IBF junior bantamweight title fights with Garcia (D 12/SD 12). He stayed busy last December whilst waiting for his next opportunity.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Masamichi Yabuki, Willibaldo Garcia to defend titles on June 6

Two title fights – one at flyweight, the other at junior bantamweight – will take place on June 6 at the Aichi International Exhibition Center in Tokoname City, Aichi, Japan.

3150Fight announced that Masamichi Yabuki will defend his IBF 112lbs belt against Rene Calixto Bibiano, while Willibaldo Garcia will put his IBF 115lbs title on the line against Andrew Moloney.

Yabuki, 19-4 (18 KOs), is a 33-year-old from Nagoya, Aichi, Japan who has held world titles in two weight classes.

After suffering losses early in his career to future champs Junto Nakatani and Seigo Yuri Akui, as well as contender Daniel Matellon, Yabuki went on to upset Kenshiro Teraji via 10th-round TKO in 2021, winning the WBC 108lbs belt in the process. Teraji regained the title emphatically in their rematch six months later, knocking Yabuki out in the third round.

Yabuki’s rebuilding began with a TKO of future titleholder Thanongsak Simsri in 2022. And in 2024, Yabuki stopped Sivenathi Nontshinga to win the IBF junior flyweight title. He then moved up to flyweight and took out Angel Ayala in the 12th round to gain the IBF flyweight title. For his first defense, Yabuki knocked out former 108lbs titleholder this past December, once again in the 12th round.

Calixto Bibiano, 24-1-1 (10 KOs), is a 31-year-old from Mexico who is ranked No. 5 by the IBF and No. 13 by the WBC at 112lbs, and No. 9 by the WBO at 115.

Both of his blemishes came in title fights against the aforementioned Willibaldo Garcia. The two men fought to a draw in a bout for the vacant IBF 115lbs title in late 2024, and then Garcia won a split decision in their rematch last May. Calixto Bibiano returned in December with a four-round TKO of a 12-5 foe.

Garcia, 23-6-2 (13 KOs), suffered four of those defeats within the first nine months of turning pro. His other losses came against Alexandro Santiago by majority decision in 2020 and former bantamweight titleholder Paul Butler by split decision in 2021.

Garcia has gone 11-0-1 since, with his two most recent fights being the draw with Calixto Bibiano and then the rematch win. That means it will have been a year out of the ring for the 36-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico.

Moloney, 28-4 (18 KOs), is a longtime contender in the junior bantamweight division who briefly held a secondary title. The 35-year-old Australian is ranked No. 3 by the IBF – the highest-rated fighter with the sanctioning body – and No. 7 by the WBC. He went 0-2 with one no-contest in his trilogy with Joshua Franco in 2020 and 2021.

Moloney was the victim of a highlight-reel 12th-round KO at the hands of Nakatani in 2023, lost a split decision to former titleholder Pedro Guevara in 2024, and has won two bouts since against nondescript opposition. Last year, Moloney pulled out of an eliminator against Argi Cortes for this very IBF 115lbs title that he's now fighting for.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Two title fights set for June 6th in Aichi, Japan

Willibaldo Garcia vs Andrew Moloney and Masamichi Yabuki vs Rene Calixto are on tap for this summer

After the unfortunate demise of its three-day Saikou x LUSH event this month, 3150Fight is getting its schedule together, announcing a pair of IBF title fights for June 6th in Aichi, Japan.

One sees super flyweight champion Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KO) make his inaugural defense against Andrew Moloney (28-4, 18 KO). Garcia had intended to battle Kenshiro Teraji in December, but withdrew shortly before fight night, and Moloney’s mandatory challenger status precluded organizers from rescheduling. Moloney has won two straight since a close decision loss to Pedro Guevara prompted him to announce a short-lived retirement.

It’s a well-matched bout, but arguably not as interesting as the stakes, as an undisputed showdown with “Bam” Rodriguez could potentially await the winner after Rodriguez’s rumored bantamweight debut against Antonio Vargas.

The other fight pits flyweight champ Masamichi Yabuki (19-4, 18 KO) against Rene Calixto (24-1-1, 10 KO), the man Garcia beat for his then-vacant title. Yabuki has firmly established himself as among the best below 115, racking up six consecutive knockouts over the likes of Thanongsak Simsri and Felix Alvarado since losing his rematch with Teraji. Calixto, who went 0-1-1 in two fights with Garcia, will be dropping back down from super flyweight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Luis Nery vs John Riel Casimero rescheduled for June 6th in Japan

Three weeks after postponing the bout due to “international instability,” 3150Fight announced that Luis Nery vs John Riel Casimero will join their June 6th SAIKOU x Lush show in Aichi, Japan.

The show currently features two IBF title fights, which see Willibaldo Garcia and Masamichi Yabuki defend their respective belts against Andre Moloney and Rene Calixto.

Nery (37-2, 28 KO) was famously banned from competing in Japan following his two victories over Shinsuke Yamanaka, which saw him fail a drug test following their first meeting before blowing weight in their second. The Japanese Boxing Commission ultimately allowed Nery to return six years later to meet Naoya Inoue, who got off the canvas to brutally stop “Pantera” in 2024.

He’s since stopped Kyonosuke Kameda and taken a wide technical decision over Sathaporn Saart.

Casimero (35-5-1, 24 KO) has fought three of his last four on Japanese soil, including a knockout over Tom Mizokoshi in Aichi last December. Despite a bevy of controversy in and outside of the ring, the 37-year-old has lost just once in the last nine years, an uninspiring UD against the aforementioned Kameda the prior October.

Pretty damn stacked card, honestly, especially for being free on YouTube.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kenneth Llover-Michael Angeletti eliminator added to packed June 6 card

Another good fight has been added to the June 6 show headlined by two title matches at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.

The latest addition is an IBF bantamweight title eliminator between Kenneth Llover and Michael Angeletti, according to promoter 3150Fights, run by retired former titleholder Koki Kameda.

Llover, 17-0 (12 KOs), is a 23-year-old from the Philippines. He is ranked third by the IBF, sixth by the WBC, 10th by the WBA and 14th by the WBO. Llover’s most recent bout was in December, when he won a second-round knockout at the very same venue in Japan against the 12-9-3 Ayati Sailike.

Angeletti, 14-0 (8 KOs), is a 29-year-old living in Spring, Texas. He is ranked fifth by the IBF, eighth by the WBA and 13th by the WBC. Angeletti last fought in June 2025, which means he’ll be coming off a year-long lay-off. In that bout in San Antonio, Texas, Angeletti nearly shut out the 15-1 Eros Correa.

The IBF bantamweight titleholder is Jose Salas Reyes. The sanctioning body’s top two spots at 118lbs are vacant. The fourth position is held by Riku Masuda, 10-1 (9 KOs), who stopped Nonito Donaire in March.

The two title fights on this June 6 card will see Masamichi Yabuki defend his IBF 112lbs belt against Rene Calixto Bibiano, while Willibaldo Garcia will put his IBF 115lbs title on the line against Andrew Moloney.

Also recently announced for this show is a battle of junior featherweights Luis Nery and John Riel Casimero. Nery-Casimero was originally supposed to take place on April 18 but was postponed.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Andrew Moloney’s patience pays off with Willibaldo Garcia title shot

Andrew Moloney stayed the course, and his persistence and patience are scheduled to pay off June 6 when he challenges IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia for the 115-pound crown in Japan.

Moloney could have made a handsome payday without taking a single punch by taking a considerable fee and stepping aside to allow Garcia to take on The Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO titleholder Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez for an undisputed fight, but the 35-year-old Australian’s championship aspirations couldn’t be purchased.

“My life has revolved around being a world champion and chasing this dream. I've made so many sacrifices and dedicated my whole life toward this dream,” Moloney told The Ring. “I've been patient. I've waited 18 months. I wasn't willing to let someone else take my spot and basically sell my dream — that’s what it felt like to me.”

Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs) was supposed to take on Argi Cortes in an IBF title eliminator in August, but the oft-delayed bout never came to be as multiple changes made Moloney uneasy and forced him to pull out of the fight despite spending a considerable amount of time in Mexico waiting for the event to unfold.

Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs), meanwhile, was supposed to defend his title in December against Kenshiro Teraji but fell in on the day of the weigh-in and was forced to pull out.

The IBF had mandated at the time that the winner of Garcia-Teraji must face Moloney.

“I stood firm. I turned down a lot of money to step aside,” said Moloney. “Winning this world title means more than anything to me, more than money.”

Garcia, a 36-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico, hasn't fought since securing the title in a May rematch against Rene Calixto following their December 2024 split draw.

Moloney, a multiple-time title challenger, is riding a two-fight winning streak, with the last win coming in a stay-busy fight in Fiji in November. Moloney has fallen short in previous title shots against Junto Nakatani, Joshua Franco, and Pedro Guevara.

“I'm very confident of backing myself to beat Garcia,” said Moloney. “I've got what it takes. I've been working extremely hard. I am very excited for this opportunity. I know that this is my time, and the reward is just around the corner. I can't wait to have that IBF title around my waist.”

[giacomino]

Andrew Moloney’s patience pays off with Willibaldo Garcia title shot

Andrew Moloney stayed the course, and his persistence and patience are scheduled to pay off June 6 when he challenges IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia for the 115-pound crown in Japan.

Moloney could have made a handsome payday without taking a single punch by taking a considerable fee and stepping aside to allow Garcia to take on The Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO titleholder Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez for an undisputed fight, but the 35-year-old Australian’s championship aspirations couldn’t be purchased.

“My life has revolved around being a world champion and chasing this dream. I've made so many sacrifices and dedicated my whole life toward this dream,” Moloney told The Ring. “I've been patient. I've waited 18 months. I wasn't willing to let someone else take my spot and basically sell my dream — that’s what it felt like to me.”

Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs) was supposed to take on Argi Cortes in an IBF title eliminator in August, but the oft-delayed bout never came to be as multiple changes made Moloney uneasy and forced him to pull out of the fight despite spending a considerable amount of time in Mexico waiting for the event to unfold.

Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs), meanwhile, was supposed to defend his title in December against Kenshiro Teraji but fell in on the day of the weigh-in and was forced to pull out.

The IBF had mandated at the time that the winner of Garcia-Teraji must face Moloney.

“I stood firm. I turned down a lot of money to step aside,” said Moloney. “Winning this world title means more than anything to me, more than money.”

Garcia, a 36-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico, hasn't fought since securing the title in a May rematch against Rene Calixto following their December 2024 split draw.

Moloney, a multiple-time title challenger, is riding a two-fight winning streak, with the last win coming in a stay-busy fight in Fiji in November. Moloney has fallen short in previous title shots against Junto Nakatani, Joshua Franco, and Pedro Guevara.

“I'm very confident of backing myself to beat Garcia,” said Moloney. “I've got what it takes. I've been working extremely hard. I am very excited for this opportunity. I know that this is my time, and the reward is just around the corner. I can't wait to have that IBF title around my waist.”

Seems like if they keep giving Moloney chance after chance he'll find somebody he can beat for a paper belt. I thought he "won" a paper belt in a setup fight against a patsy in 2019, but I might be wrong. Garcia might be his best chance

[Evander]

When I see Willibaldo putting his title on the line and Bam moving up just a few days later when he could have unified, kinda pisses me off for some reason.
Saying we couldn't have given Bam an opportunity to unify at the weight now and then move up straight after seems odd to me.
Could have fought Willibaldo in June unified and then moved up.

[Evander]

After all this it better be a good fight