Moloney hospitalized in Las Vegas following Tuesday Loss

Former WBA World champ Jr. Bantamweight Andrew Moloney was hospitalized late Tuesday night after his first pro defeat to American Joshua Franco. The fight was the Top Rank Boxing Main Event at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Resort.

The 29 year old Moloney was taken by ambulance to nearby University Medical Center approximately a half hour after losing a 12 round decision to the new champ, Franco. ESPN Boxing reporter/interviewer Bernardo Osuna had this update on Moloney late Tuesday night:

Update on @AndrewMoloney is that he suffered 2 perforated eardrums in his loss to @JoshuaFranco_ https://t.co/VAZAtzVDnm

— Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) June 24, 2020

As Osuna reported, the 29 year old Moloney was conscious and talking to doctors and paramedics, while being taken as a precaution by stretcher to the ambulance. And, he remained conscious late Tuesday night, according to his twin brother, Jason Moloney.

Andrew Moloney had taken significant punishment, including numerous shots to the body from Franco, in the second half of the 12 round battle. Franco ultimately recorded a 12 round unanimous decision win that he sealed by knocking Moloney down in the 11th round.

Osuna further reported that the previously 21-0 Moloney had suffered two perforated ear drums in the loss Tuesday night. Moloney was making his U.S. debut headlining the Tuesday night Top Rank Boxing show from their “bubble” and televised by ESPN.

Jason Moloney is scheduled to be the main event in a 10 round Bantamweight battle on Thursday night in Vegas.

Franco, from San Antonio, TX, started to take control in the middle rounds by establishing mid-range shots and landing solid left uppercuts on Moloney. Plus, he was using his attack inside to the body. Moloney was clearly tiring in the final three rounds of the fight and Franco put him down with a flurry of punches punctuated by a right hook followed by a straight left, early in the 11th.

Moloney had to hold and grab Franco several times later in the 11th and the 12th rounds with the fight concluding.

In the end, Franco, now 17-1, won on narrow scores of 115-112 and 114-113 on the final two cards to capture his first World Title.