Former WBO bantamweight world champion Jason Moloney has signed a multi-fight promotional contract with Zuffa Boxing. The 35-year-old Australian fighter joins the new promotion led by UFC CEO Dana White.
White established the organization in a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabian powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. They want to break the traditional boxing hierarchy. Their strategy relies on a centralized matchmaking model similar to the UFC. Moloney gives the promotion an immediate foothold in the Japanese market where he holds a strong fan base.
He brings a 29-4 record with 20 knockouts to the roster. Moloney enters the Zuffa ranks following a unanimous decision victory over Andre Donovan in April 2026. That fight secured the vacant IBF Inter-Continental bantamweight title.
The traditional sanctioning bodies are actively fighting this new centralized system. The WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO refuse to recognize Zuffa’s custom belts. Moloney signed the five-fight promotional contract regardless of that political friction. This exact dispute previously forced fellow Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia to surrender his IBF title when he debuted on a Zuffa world title card.
Moloney captured the WBO bantamweight crown in May 2023 before losing it to Yoshiki Takei in May 2024. A trip to Las Vegas and a personal meeting with White convinced him the new promotion will take over the sport, according to Ring Magazine. Discussions are already advancing to place him on an upcoming Zuffa card in Saudi Arabia later this year.