Jason Moloney responded impressively Saturday night to his first knockout defeat.

The Australian bantamweight contender overcame a slow start against Joshua Greer Jr. and won a 10-round unanimous decision in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Moloney, who fought for the first time since Naoya Inoue knocked him out October 31, consistently landed the more effective punches once he went on the offensive in the second half of the third round.

Judges Henry Ellick (98-92), Karen Holderfield (96-94) and David Sutherland (98-92) all favored Moloney, who considered this a “must-win” fight against Greer. Moloney’s twin brother, Andrew, is scheduled to challenge rival Joshua Franco for the WBA world super flyweight title in the main event, which ESPN will televise from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Moloney improved 22-2 (18 KOs). He has lost only to Japan’s Inoue and former IBF champ Emmanuel Rodriguez by split decision in world title fights.

Chicago’s Greer (22-3-2, 18 KOs) is 0-2-1 in his past three fights.

Kay Koroma, Greer’s trainer, implored Greer to let his hands go before the 10th round began. He was aggressive in those final three minutes of action, but Moloney mostly worked off his jab and avoided Greer’s power attempts.

Moloney also blasted Greer with a right hand that Greer took well with 1:15 to go in their fight.

Greer landed a hard right to Moloney’s body with just over two minutes remaining in the ninth round.

Greer went down with just over a minute to go in the eighth round. Ritter rightfully ruled, though, that Greer slipped to the canvas.

Greer fired back with a right that landed up top after Moloney hit him with a left hook to the body just before the midway mark of the seventh round.

Moloney nailed Greer with a picture-perfect right hand to his jaw exactly a minute into the sixth round. Several seconds later, Moloney landed a left hook in a flurry.

With about 30 seconds to go in the sixth round, Moloney drilled Greer with another right hand.

Greer’s short, right hand inside made Moloney hold him with just under two minutes to go in the fifth round. Ritter warned Greer for using his forearm with just over a minute to go in the fifth round.

Greer and Moloney traded right hands just before the midway mark of the fourth round. With about 1:20 to go in the fourth round, Moloney’s counter left hook stunned Greer near a corner.

Moloney also landed a hard right hand in the final minute of the fourth round.

Greer’s overhand right knocked Moloney off balance about 40 seconds into the third round. Moloney got going later in the third round, when he clipped Greer with a left hook up top, a left hook to the body and a right hand to the head.

Greer was the aggressor again in the second round, when he went after Moloney’s body.

Greer landed a left hook with just over 30 seconds to go in the first round. The remainder of the first round was marred by clinching.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.