World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Jason Moloney of Australia is anxiously waiting for his title defense against fifth-ranked Yoshiki Takei of Ohashi Boxing Gym on May 6 at Tokyo Dome and said he is happy to fight in Japan at such a big event.

  Speaking before a group of reporters at Tokyo’s Teiken Boxing Gym during his public workout, which consisted of only a round of shadowboxing, Moloney said he has always wanted to fight in Japan.

  It will be the 33-year-old Moloney’s second defense of the title he captured last May by decisioning Vincent Astrolabio of the Philippines for the vacant title.

  Moloney cited his unsuccessful title challenge to Takei’s senior stablemate and then World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue in October 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which the Australian was knocked out in the seventh round, saying that fight gave him a chance to grow.

  Moloney had a pair of Kadoebi Boxing Gym boxers, former Japanese bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi and Jun Ikegawa, visit his Australian training camp this year to serve as sparring partners, along with Maccha Nakagawa of Spider Nemoto Gym in preparation for his fight with Takei.

  Further, fellow Australian Bruno Tarimo, who was stopped in the 11^th round by Takei in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super bantamweight title match in December 2022 in Tokyo, also served as Moloney’s sparring partner.

  Commenting on Takei, 27, Moloney said Takei packs an explosive punch. He thinks Takei throws punches from a different angle. He will have to stay focused during the fight.

  In this connection, Moloney’s trainer Angelo Haider, who also served as a trainer for Tarimo, said Since Takei was a former kickboxer and a tricky kind, they had to have a different kind of training for the upcoming fight.

  Haider said Moloney’s strength is he can cope with any situation, and added the difference between the boxing career will make the difference. But Moloney fought a southpaw only once as a pro (He stopped Cris Paulino of the Philippines in the fifth round).

  Moloney has a record of 27 wins, including 19 KOs, against two losses, while Takei is undefeated in his eight professional bouts, all by KO.

  The fight will be one of the four world title fights at the dome, in which Naoya Inoue will defend his undisputed world super bantamweight titles against Luis Nery of Mexico as the main event of the extravaganza.