Top Rank Preview: Joshua Franco Ready For Unique Opportunity Against Andrew Moloney

At 24, Joshua Franco has managed to secure a title opportunity on primetime TV. With the world craving sports as a result of COVID-19, eyes will be on him as he looks to dethrone Andrew Moloney in boxing’s first title fight since March. It is a challenge he is extremely interested in taking advantage of.

Franco (16-1-2) will fight Moloney (21-0) for the WBA Super-Flyweight Title on June 23 inside the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is one of Top Rank’s biggest fights since returning to action at the beginning of June. Speaking with Boxing Scene, Franco discussed the special opportunity and what it means to him. Is there any pressure on the Texas native?

“No,” Franco would end up stating. “On the contrary, I am motivated, excited and blessed by this opportunity.”

Making his professional debut in 2015, “The Professor” was on a 13-fight win streak before losing to Lucas Emanuel Fernandez Leone back in 2018. He has since gone 3-0-2 during that time. Franco’s last fight was a TKO-win against Jose Alejandro Burgos back in January.

With eight wins via knockout, the lone loss has managed to help Franco grow. He now has a title opportunity after overcoming adversity, something anyone can be proud of.

“I felt a bit discouraged, but then it made me a better boxer,” Franco went on to say about his lone loss. “I focused and I understood that I could come back stronger than ever.”

Franco faces the 29-year-old Moloney, who won the WBA Super-Flyweight Title in his last fight against Elton Dharry back in November. Initially an interim fight, Moloney was named to undisputed champion shortly after. A former WBA Oceania Super-Flyweight Champion, Moloney has also held the Commonwealth Super-Flyweight and Australian Bantamweight Titles.

With trainer Robert Garcia by his side and under the ESPN banner, Franco is ready to put on a show nobody will ever forget.