Kameda Promotions have won the purse bid to stage the IBF super flyweight title fight between reigning champion Willibaldo Garcia and Andrew Moloney.
The Japanese promotion won the right to host the fight with a purse bid of $315,000 (US), with a date yet to be finalized. However, Boxing Social has learned that the title contest will be pinned in over the next 30 to 90 days and will take place in either Kyrgyzstan or Japan.
The second-highest bidder was Manny Pacquiao Promotions at $275,000. Garcia is managed by MP’s president Sean Gibbons.
Kameda Promotions is headed by former three-division world champion Koki Kameda. Its stable currently includes multiple-weight title holder John Riel Casimero and younger brother Tomoki Kameda, a former WBO bantamweight champion.
“I’m absolutely pumped that I’m now locked in to fight for the IBF World Title,” Moloney told Boxing Social. “For the last few months all the talks have been about people trying to stop this fight from happening, so now it finally feels real. In the next few days I will know when and where I will be crowned IBF Champion of the World!”
Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs) has endured a rough ride while trying to fight a final eliminator against Argi Cortes in Mexico last year, and has had to fend off step-aside offers to allow Jesse Rodriguez the chance at becoming undisputed in the division. However, some integrity has prevailed, with Moloney finally set to get a chance at a second world title having refused to step aside.
Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs) secured the IBF belt in a rematch with Rene Calixto, winning a split decision.