Astrolabio shrouds strategy in secrecy

MANTECA, California — Australian Jason Moloney feels his Filipino rival Vincent Astrolabio will be lucky to go eight rounds with him in their clash for the vacant World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown on Saturday night at the Stockton Arena.

"I think it won't go past eight rounds," Moloney, a 32-year-old master boxer from Melbourne, told Daily Tribune on Thursday after the press conference at the Great Wolf Lodge.

"I am prepared for everything," said Moloney, who will be attempting to win a world title in his third try.

In his first title challenge, Moloney was denied by Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez, who beat him on points in 2018 in a bid to snatch the International Boxing Federation 118-lb crown.

Then in 2020, Moloney was pitted against Japanese Naoya Inoue, who scored a one-punch seventh-round knockout in their battle for the World Boxing Association and IBF straps.

This time, Moloney swears he will finally succeed in bagging a world title owing to "great preparation and great sparring."

"I didn't leave any stone unturned (in getting ready for this fight)," he added.

Astrolabio, younger by seven years, swears Moloney will suffer his third failed quest on fight night.

"I trained long and hard and sacrificed a lot and I am going to win" Astrolabio said through Ting Ariosa, who also serves as one of his training assistants.