Moloney vs Gomez Predictions: Aussie boxing’s first family comes home

Former WBO champion Jason Moloney takes on Herlan Gomez this Saturday, December 6 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. The bantamweight eight-rounder features on the undercard of Jai Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight title defence against Huseyin Cinkara. UFC Fight Pass will air the card internationally with Stan Sports carrying the Australian broadcast.

Here are my Moloney vs Gomez predictions ahead of this bantamweight battle.

Moloney vs Gomez Odds

Gomez is unfancied at 10/1 for an implied probability of 9.1% for victory. Ex-champ Moloney is priced at 1/20 while the draw is up at 20/1.

Moloney vs Gomez Fight Preview

It has been a rough time for the fighting Moloney brothers. The twins are the first Australian brothers to both capture boxing world titles. Andrew was the first out of the blocks, capturing the WBA interim super flyweight strap in 2019 before having it upgraded in 2020. He would then lose his title to Joshua Franco, failing to regain it during a three-fight trilogy. 

Jason had a more agonising wait for world honours. He was narrowly outpointed via split decision by IBF bantamweight champ Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2018. Two years later, fearsome knockout artist Naoya Inoue finished Moloney in seven rounds of a WBA, IBF and The Ring title challenge.

You know what they say about the charm of a third time. Moloney finally joined his brother in the pantheon of Aussie boxing world titlists by claiming the vacant WBO super bantamweight belt against Vincent Astrolabio in May 2023. Jason outside Andrew, managing to successfully defend his belt against Saul Sanchez in his first defence last year.

But life has come at the Victoria-born boxer fast. Moloney would lose his hard-won crown to ex-K1 kickboxing champion Yoshiki Takei in May 2024, having reigned for a year. 

An attempt to re-enter title contention was nixed by Tenshin Nasukawa, another crossover icon of kickboxing who climbed the super bantamweight boxing rankings after an exhibition battering at the hands of Floyd Mayweather inspired him. The spoils were plentiful for Tenshin, who secured a world title shot against Takuma Inoue.  

Nasukawa lost that title fight last month. But there is no doubt Moloney would rather be in and pitching against a world champion than trying to rebuild at the age of 34 in an eight-round scrap. But this might be exactly what the Aussie star needs after a couple of tough losses on the road in Japan.

The Moloney dynasty are internally aware their time at the top is ticking down. Andrew retired last year after dropping a decision to Pedro Guevara for the WBC interim super flyweight gong. He has won two since reversing that emotional decision, but it shows that the prospect of life outside the ring has permeated the twins’ camp.

Gomez is a soft landing for Jason, at least. ‘Negros Hitman’ has lost to Yuttapong Tongdee, who Takei iced in one brutal round. His other defeat came at the hands of Kalolo Amiri, who then lost his next two fights. It is fair to say Gomez is a step down from Takei and Nasukawa.

That is exactly what Moloney needs at this stage. This is the first time the former world champion has fought in Australia for three years. A buoyant home crowd and a theoretically-easier opponent is just the ticket. Moloney needs to look good if he has any hope of one last shot at a world title.

Moloney vs Gomez Full Card

Jai Opetaia vs Huseyin Cinkara

Ben Mahoney vs Winston Hill

Jake Wyllie vs Paul Fleming

Jack Gregory vs Hayden Emmerson

Jason Moloney vs Herlan Gomez

Max McIntyre vs Jed Morris

Taylah Gentzen vs Jessica Adams

Teremoana Teremoana vs German Garcia Montes

Austin Aokuso vs Emmanuel Danso

Moloney vs Gomez Prediction

This fight is designed to get Moloney back in the win column, get a training camp behind him and allowed his home fans to watch him fight. I think it will be a straightforward mission that the 34-year-old will accomplish with class. Moloney to win at 1/20.