Jason Moloney knows he will one day reap the benefits of the sacrifices made ahead of his first title defense.

The WBO bantamweight titlist worked through the holidays while thousands of miles from his Australia home and away from his family in preparation for Saturday’s title fight versus Saul Sanchez. Moloney (26-2, 19KOs) set up shop in Las Vegas, which he and twin brother Andrew Moloney have regularly done over the past few years.

This camp was particularly emotional as it meant time away from his loved ones during Christmas and through the new year. For now, it remains a necessary evil.

“I may decide to change things up at some point but I always have great training camps here in Vegas,” Moloney told krikya360.com. “This one was particularly hard, being away from my young family and missing out on Christmas with my daughters.

“it’s really added fuel to my fire and I’m determined to make sure the sacrifices will pay off.”

Moloney-Sanchez headlines an ESPN+ preliminary undercard preceding an ESPN-televised doubleheader this Saturday from Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada. Headlining the show, Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19KOs) defends his lineal, WBC, IBF and WBO light heavyweight championship versus former WBA super middleweight titlist Callum Smith (29-1, 21KOs).

Moloney won the WBO belt in a twelve-round, majority decision over the Philippines’ Vincent Astrolabio last May 13 in Stockton, California. A broken hand suffered in the early rounds of their vacant title fight was not going to hold back Moloney from winning his first major title on his third try.

It did, however, put his career on hold for several months as he recovered from the injury. He intensified his training camp as a result, aided by a pair of familiar faces who served as his chief sparring partners.

“I’ve had two great sparring partners for this camp—Arthur Villanueva who also helped me prepare for my last fight and a former opponent of mine, Javier Pedroza,” noted Moloney. “Both guys have stayed with me the whole camp, given up their Christmas period and given me great work! So I’m very grateful and very well prepared.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox