Australia's Andrew Moloney is ready to grab the attention of the boxing world when he defends his WBA super-flyweight world title in Las Vegas.
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Moloney takes on Texan challenger Joshua Franco on Tuesday (10am Wednesday AEST) at the MGM Grand casino.
The bout will be staged in a "bubble" to limit exposure to COVID-19, with no live spectators but an expected huge US and Australian TV audience.
"It would have been great to fight at the MGM with a packed crowd, but I'm still over the moon and stoked to fight at the MGM," Moloney told AAP.
"It will be the largest audience I have ever fought in front of in terms of TV.
"It's a huge opportunity to make a name for myself on the world scene."
The bout will be televised on Fox Sports in Australia and ESPN in the US.
Melbourne-born, Kingscliff-based Moloney is undefeated in 21 professional fights with 14 knockouts.
Franco has 16 wins (eight knockouts), one loss and two draws.
It is an historic week for Australian sports with Moloney's identical twin brother, Jason, an elite bantamweight, fighting Mexico's Leonardo Baez at the MGM on Thursday (Friday AEST).
The bouts are part of three weeks of fight cards organised by Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum.
The Moloneys, 29, other fighters and support team members have had to undergo multiple COVID-19 tests and remain inside the "bubble", a secure area of the MGM cut off from the outside world.
The bubble includes training, dining and recreation areas and living quarters.
Australian Associated Press
