October 31, 2020 – Las Vegas, NV — Under the eerie glow of Halloween lights at the MGM Grand’s fan-free “Bubble,” Japan’s Naoya Inoue haunted the bantamweight division with another merciless finish—this time dismantling Australia’s Jason Moloney in seven rounds of cold precision.

Inoue, stepping into the ring for his U.S. return as a unified bantamweight champion, delivered a technical and tactical masterclass, becoming the first man to stop Moloney in his career. The end came at 2:59 of Round 7, after Inoue detonated a perfectly-timed counter right hand on Moloney’s chin, leaving referee Kenny Bayless no choice but to halt the contest.

Moloney, who entered with a respectable 21-1 record and a reputation for grit and pressure, simply couldn’t bridge the gap in speed, timing, or firepower. The Australian had brief flashes of success early, showing movement and volume, but Inoue’s ability to adapt neutralized any momentum before it could build.

As early as the second round, Inoue began dissecting Moloney’s approach, threading punches through tight defensive gaps. The Japanese star mixed sharp body work with a commanding jab and slick lateral movement, keeping Moloney guessing. Despite his best efforts, the Aussie was met repeatedly with razor-sharp counters.

By round six, Inoue’s superiority surfaced in full. A lightning-fast left hook dropped Moloney for the first time, sending a clear signal that the end was near. The champion then calmly stalked in the seventh, waiting for the precise opening—which Moloney unwittingly offered by overcommitting behind a jab. Inoue’s answer was emphatic: a compact right hand that shut the lights out.

Statistically, the fight told the same story. Inoue landed 107 of 338 punches (32%), compared to Moloney’s 62 of 334 (19%). His power punching accuracy and defensive rhythm showed why he’s a fixture in pound-for-pound conversations, now boasting a flawless 20-0 (17 KOs) record.