Argi Cortes and Andrew Moloney have been given a 15-day deadline to finalize terms for an IBF junior bantamweight title eliminator, with a world title shot on the line for the winner.
The IBF has formally ordered a final eliminator between the two contenders, who both confirmed in writing their willingness to proceed. The sanctioning body began the negotiation period at the start of May, giving the fighters until May 15 to reach a deal and avoid a purse bid.
“Be advised that #5 ranked Argi Cortes and #6 ranked Andrew Moloney have indicated in writing a willingness to participate in the IBF Jr. Bantamweight Eliminator for #1,” said IBF Championship Committee chairman Carlos Ortiz in a ruling obtained by BoxingScene. “In an effort to determine who the mandatory challenger will be, the IBF is ordering the eliminator.”
Cortes is promoted by Zanfer Boxing, led by Fernando Beltran. Moloney is represented by Tony Tolj, who has managed the Australian since his pro debut.
Cortes (27-4-2, 11 KOs) has become known more for his resilience in defeat than for marquee victories. He notably took Junto Nakatani the full 12 rounds in their September 2023 WBO title fight in Tokyo, becoming the only man to do so in a title bout against the Japanese three-division champion. That loss came just over a year after his thrilling but unsuccessful challenge of Juan Francisco Estrada for the lineal championship in Hermosillo.
Since the Nakatani setback, the Mexico City native has won two straight, most recently scoring a ninth-round knockout of Salvador Juarez last August.
Moloney (27-4, 17 KOs), a former secondary WBA titlist, began his career with a long unbeaten run before falling to Joshua Franco in June 2020—the start of a three-fight series he ended without a win. All three bouts were held in the United States, and the rivalry effectively ended Moloney’s WBA title reign.
The Australian bounced back with four wins, earning a shot at the vacant WBO junior bantamweight belt in May 2023. Once again, it was Nakatani who halted his title dreams—this time in devastating fashion, flattening Moloney with just 18 seconds left in the final round in Las Vegas.
Moloney has gone 2-1 since that loss, dropping a narrow split decision to Pedro Guevara in an interim WBC title fight last May in Perth. He returned in December with a fourth-round knockout of Jakrawut Majungoen in Flemington.
Talks for a long-desired bout with former four-division champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez failed to materialize, leading Moloney to pivot toward the IBF path.
The winner of the Cortes–Moloney clash will become the IBF’s mandatory challenger, moving one step closer to a shot at the junior bantamweight world title.
Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
