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- What: WBO bantamweight title fight
- Who: Jason Moloney vs. Saul Sanchez
- Date: Saturday, January 13, 2024
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada
- How to Watch: ESPN and ESPN+
A fight that was initially booked to take place in August 2023 now goes down on January 13, 2024, when Artur Beterbiev puts his WBC, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight titles on the line against former WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith. That Top Rank-promoted contest takes place at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. Before Beterbiev and Smith clash, WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney puts his title on the line against Saul Sanchez. Below is some background on the fighters before we discuss, in detail, the betting breakdown of the Moloney vs. Sanchez matchup.
Jason Moloney (26-2 with 19 knockouts) is the No. 1 bantamweight fighter in the world, according to The Ring ratings. The 32-year-old Australian is riding a five-fight winning streak since Naoya Inoue knocked him out in 2020. Moloney captured the vacant WBO bantamweight crown in May 2023 with a majority decision over Vincent Astrolabio.
Saul Sanchez (20-2 with 12 KOs) is the No. 7 fighter in the WBO bantamweight rankings. The 26-year-old American is on a two-fight winning streak since Eros Correa defeated him via split decision in June 2022. This fight marks the first time Sanchez has fought for a major title. His most recent win was an October 2023 unanimous decision triumph over RV Deniega.
Before we look at the bantamweight matchup between Jason Moloney vs. Saul Sanchez, check out our guide to betting on boxing and our picks for the Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith light heavyweight title fight.
Jason Moloney vs. Saul Sanchez betting picks
| To Win WBO Bantamweight Title |  |  |  |  |  |
| Jason Moloney | -400 | -385 | -400 | -450 | -390 |
| Saul Sanchez | +300 | +265 | +300 | +280 | +305 |
Jason Moloney betting breakdown
Jason Moloney had a good year in 2023. Although he only fought once last year, as opposed to three bouts in 2022, Moloney’s single fight earned him a title, something he fell short of winning when he lost a split decision to Emmanuel Rodríguez (IBF bantamweight) and Naoya Inoue (WBA, IBF and The Ring bantamweight) earlier in his career.
Now that he has a title around his waist look for Moloney to carry more confidence into this fight than in his previous outings. Moloney is a disciplined fighter who stays composed even when in tight spots. Moloney also has high-level experience and is a fighter who has learned from his losses. He is a smart fighter who uses his combinations to disrupt the flow of his opponent. He’s also very good at controlling where the fight takes place. Of the two fighters, Moloney has the better hand speed and accuracy.
Saul Sanchez betting breakdown
Saul Sanchez fought twice in 2023, winning once by decision and once by knockout. His biggest career win came in 2021 when he scored a TKO over JaRico O’Quinn. Sanchez can leave himself open to counters when he comes forward and looks to pressure his foe. However, Sanchez has a solid solid chin, which allows him to employ that style of fighting. Sanchez is at his best when he is in close and brawling. He does not have the best movement and tends to keep his head on the center line, which makes him someone who can be hit and hit hard. What makes Sanchez dangerous is that he keeps coming forward and never lets up on his pressure. He has noteworthy power in his hands and can do damage when he finds openings to the body.
Best bets for Jason Moloney vs. Saul Sanchez
Moloney has faced better competition than Sanchez throughout his career and has the confidence of a titleholder. He is also a better technical fighter, but he could get caught by Sanchez’s power if he slips up during this contest. With that being said, Moloney should be able to control where the fight takes place and set the pace in this matchup.
Another thing to consider is that Sanchez has never fought a 12-round fight, let alone a 12-round title fight. The betting pick is for Jason Moloney to retain his WBO bantamweight title via decision.
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