At the Bubble, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Top Rank Boxing – Bob Arum featured 3-division world champion the current WBA and IBF Super World Bantamweight champion Naoye “Monster” Inoue, of Japan, who impressed in defending his title knocking out Jason Moloney, of Australia in 7 rounds. In the co-feature WBO Super World Female Featherweight champion Ewa “Kleo” Brodnicka, of Warsaw, Poland, came in overweight vacating title and losing to Olympian Mikaela Mayer, of Colorado Springs, CO, by decision over ESPN+.

In the Main Event WBA Super World and IBF World Bantamweight champ Naoye “Monster” Inoue, 20-0 (17), #117 ¾, of Yokohama, Japan, knocked out Jason Moloney, 21-2 (18), #117 ¾, of Melbourne, Australia, at 2:59 of the seventh round in a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first three rounds Inoue’s hand speed and right hands were the difference. In the fourth Inoue also showed a good left hook to the chin of Moloney who tried holding his own but can’t keep pace with the hand speed of Inoue. In the fifth round a right from Inoue on the chin rocked Moloney with half a minute left in the round. In the sixth round Moloney landed a double jab and got countered by a Inoue left hook on the chin and down he went for an 8-count a minute into the round.

In the seventh round a right between the eyes of Moloney from Inoue and down he went. He tried to get up to no avail as referee Kenny Bayless waved it off.

Answering questions Inoue said, “The final kayo punch I was satisfied with.” He said he wants to fight WBO champ John Riel Casimero, 30-4 (21), of the Philippines, whom he was scheduled to fight in April for a unification title fight. Casimero defended his title in September stopping Duke Micah, then 24-0, in Uncasville, CT.

In the co-feature former WBO Super World Female Featherweight champ vacating at the scales, Ewa “Kleo” Brodnicka, 19-1 (2), #130 ¼, of Warsaw, POL, lost to 2016 Olympian Mikaela Mayer, 14-0 (5), #129 ¼, of Colorado Springs, CO, for the vacant WBO Super World Female title, over 10 rounds.

In the first three rounds it was close with Mayer having and edge and Brodnicka being warned for holding in the second and third rounds by referee Celestino Ruiz. In the fourth round it was close with Brodnicka possibly pulling it out. In the fifth round Mayer came back well. Brodnicka was warned at the end of the round it would be the last warning for holding by referee Ruiz.

In the sixth and seventh rounds referee Ruiz took away a point from Brodnicka for continuous holding in otherwise close rounds. In the eighth round Mayer had an edge with her left outworking Brodnicka. In the ninth round Brodnicka was bleeding from the mouth in another close round with Mayer having an edge. In the tenth and final round Mayer worked both the body and head of Brodnicka to take the round and the crown!

Scores were Steve Weisfeld 99-89, Dave Moretti and Patricia Morse-Jarman 100-88 with this writer 99-89.

Mayer’s teacher-trainer Al Mitchell had a lot to say about the new champion though he felt she should have won by kayo, giving her a “B”. Mayer was asking “where’s my belt?” Seems the ex-champ took it back to her dressing room. Let’s hope not back to Poland after suffering her first career loss.

Super Lightweight Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez, 21-0 (14), #142 1/2, of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, stopped Jose “Piston” Eduardo Lopez, 29-8-2 (15), #142 ¼, of Torreon, MEX, at 2:10 of the third after 4 knockdowns in a scheduled 10 rounds.

In the first round a left hook from Rodriguez to the ribs dropped Lopez for a 9-count from referee Robert Hoyle. For some reason he allowed the fight to continue while Lopez walked away from him. In the second round from southpaw Rodriguez landed a right hook to the temple of Lopez whose gloves hit the canvas for another 8-count just before the bell. In the third round Rodriguez dropped Lopez twice with body shots before referee Hoyle called a halt.

Super Feather 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Robson “Nino” Conceicao, 15-0 (7), #128 ¾, of Bahia, BRZ, won a disputed decision over Luis “Louie” Coria, 12-4 (7), #128 1/2, of Moreno Valley, CA, coming off the canvas once and losing 2 points on fouls over 10 wild rounds.

In the second round a left hook from Coria on the temple dropped Conceiciao for an 8-count from referee Mike Ortega. His lip was cut and he was holding on and in the final minute was dishing out punishment to Coria. In the third Conceiciao took over. In the fourth round Conceiciao was penalized a point for a low blow without previous warnings. In the fifth round Conceiciao and Coria slugged it out the entire round with Conceiciao having an edge.

In the sixth round Conceiciao lost another point for a low blow from referee Ortega in the first minute. The rest of the round was a brawl with Conceiciano having the better of it. In the seventh round the brawl continued with Coria taking the round. In the eighth round Coria got the better of the action. In the ninth round the brawl continued in a toss-up round. In the tenth and final round both let it hang out with Conceiciano taking a close round. This could be a “fight of the year” candidate!

Scores were 94-93 and 95-92 twice for Conceiciano with this writer 94-93 for Coria.

Heavyweight Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson, 7-0 (7), #246 ¼, of Toledo, OH, stopped Louis Pena, 6-2 (6), #229 1/2, of Ventura, CA, at 2:47 of the first in a 6.

In the first round Anderson beat Pena to a pulp while referee Mike Ortega looked on before finally stopping it.