TOKYO – For someone who is instantly agreeable, Jason Moloney is one of boxing’s tough guys.

The WBO bantamweight champion is in equal parts universally liked and respected, and he has demonstrated a willingness to fight the best and to travel in order to test himself.

On the road once more, he will defend his title against Yoshiki Takei on the undercard at the Tokyo Dome on Monday (May 6) night. 

“I think it’s the hard way, but I’ve always done things the hard way, and as a fighter I just prepare myself as best I can take the biggest and best opportunities that come my way – and this is a great opportunity,” said Moloney, a 33-year-old champion who has won 27 fights, lost just two and scored 19 stoppage victories.

“Although it’s his backyard, it’s a huge show, a historical event, 55,000 people … how many people get to box in front of 55,000? This is a huge opportunity, a huge platform for me to perform and to progress in my career and the legacy I want to create for myself as a fighter, and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

Moloney has boxed in Stockton, California; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Las Vegas; and – against Naoya Inoue, who headlines this show – Orlando, Florida. Last time out, he defeated Saul Sanchez over 12 gritty rounds to defend his title in Quebec.

Another away date on Monday has earned him the “Road Warrior” title, and it is one he likes.

“It would be easy to stay in Australia and try and pick and choose a couple of easy defenses, but that’s not what I’m about,” Moloney said. “I’m about getting the absolute most out of myself and my career, and taking the hardest fights and the biggest opportunities I can. To come into his backyard and keep fighting on the road has its challenges, but it’s something I’m pretty comfortable with. I find I adapt well and I always think I perform my best on the big stage, when the pressure’s on. So I’m excited and ready for this one.”

Challenger Takei is a southpaw and a former kickboxer who is just 8-0 (8 KOs) in the pros. He was born in Tokyo but now lives in Yokohama, about an hour away. Between them, Takei’s opponents have a combined record of 134-28-11.

While Takei seems like a novice in terms of his professional experience, Moloney is counting his opponent’s kickboxing background as another string in the challenger’s bow.

“I think you have to take it into account and make it relevant,” Moloney said. “Obviously it’s a different sport, but he’s still gone there and fought on the world level and he’s a former world champion as a kickboxer and no doubt fought on the world stage in front of big crowds, so that’s all experience you have to give him credit for.

“I guess he doesn’t have the experience as a professional boxer, and hopefully that will show on fight night, but you can only respect the guy who’s taken hard fights in a sport where some fight guys with padded records and wanting to take easy fights. I think him and his team wanting to try and become a world champion in their ninth fight, you have to respect that. But it’s my job to make sure they’ve made the wrong decision and gone too far, and hopefully he’ll come unstuck and I’ll get the job done.”

Moloney retains his own ambition, too. Despite losses to the quality duo of Inoue and Emmanuel Rodriguez, he has won his last six. Moloney’s twin brother, Andrew, boxes in Perth next weekend on the bill topped by Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos for the IBF lightweight title, with Andrew attempting to claim the WBC interim junior bantamweight belt against Pedro Guevara. Both Moloneys love a challenge, and Jason has several goals remaining before he retires.

“I want to finish my career and when it’s all said and done, know that I did everything I possibly could – I took every opportunity that came my way and I made the absolute most of my career,” he said. “Definitely me and my brother headlining a double world title show with us both as champions is on the bucket list, and I’d love to have some fights in Australia and get the whole country behind me fighting Down Under, but at the moment it’s just about enjoying what I’m doing. I feel grateful to be traveling the world, fighting in different countries, defending my belt and fighting on the biggest shows possible.”

The Moloneys are part of the Australian Golden Era, with Kambosos, Jai Opetaia, Tim Tszyu, Skye Nicolson and others paving the way. Moloney has loved the sport from a young age, and he hopes this current crop of stars will inspire future generations.

In March, Australia took a hit when – in the space of two nights – Liam Wilson was defeated by Oscar Valdez, Michael Zerafa was stopped by Erislandy Lara, and Tszyu lost a in bloodbath to Sebastian Fundora. Jason Moloney is hoping Monday night kicks off a better period for his compatriots.

“It’s always been something that’s important to me, is to help the sport of boxing grow in Australia,” he said. “And I know the way it grows is with success and people like following a winner, and the only way we can put on the big events and get the country behind us is by winning big fights and putting on big shows in Australia. It’s something that’s always been important to me and it’s something that’s great to be called a golden era.

“We’ve got a big month ahead, so I want to have a big win here and get the ball rolling, create some buzz. Then I’ve got my brother fighting the week after in Perth for an interim WBC title, we’ve got George Kambosos headlining that show for another world title, Jai is on the week after that. He can become a champion after that, so I want to get this ball rolling again, ignite that flame and make sure this is the golden era of Australian boxing.”