Pictured: Joshua "The Professor" Franco


Last night, in the main event of the Top Rank-promoted, ESPN-televised card at The Bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, underdog challenger Joshua Franco scored an 11th-round knockdown and went to take the WBA World super flyweight title from defending champion Andrew Moloney. In the co-feature, featherweight Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz unanimously outpointed Jason Sanchez.

In the bouts other cards, undeated super lightweight prospect Miguel "Caveman" Contreras outscored previously unbeaten knockout artist Rolando Vargas and heavyweight Helaman Olguin upset previously unbeaten Adam Stewart.


WBA World Super Flyweight Title-
Joshua Franco (The Ring #10, WBC #11, WBA #12- all at 115; IBF #7, WBA #12- at 118; 17-1-2, 8 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 12
Champion Andrew Moloney (TTR #6, The Ring #6, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #8; 21-1, 14 KOs)
- The 29-year-old Moloney, of Kingscliff, New South Wales, Australia, was making his debut in the United States and his first defense of the WBA title.
- In the 11th round, Franco, 24, of San Antonio, Texas, landed a four-punch combination which resulted in the bout's only official knockdown.
- The knockdown proved to be the difference between Franco winning the title and Moloney retaining it by a majorirty decision draw.
- The challenger went on to win by the scores of 114-113, 115-112, and 114-113.
- Moloney is now 1-1 in bouts outside of his native Australia, having stopped Miguel Gonzalez in a WBA eliminator held in Chile in March of 2019.

Featherweight Bout-
Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz (WBO #11, WBC #17; 26-2, 16 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 10
Jason Sanchez (15-2, 8 KOs)
- Diaz won the bout between the two 25-year-old former world title challengers by the scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 98-92.

Super Lightweight Bout-
Miguel Contreras (11-0, 6 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 6
Rolando Vargas (5-1, 5 KOs)
- Contreras, 22, of Bakersfield, California unanimously outpointed the 20-year-old Vargas, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by three 58-56 scores.

Heavyweight Bout-
Helaman Olquin (8-3, 3 KOs)
Maj. Dec. 6
Adam Stewart (8-1-1, 5 KOs)
- Both fighters had stopped Mexican journeyman Alfredo Trevino in the first round- Stewart in 2018; Olquin earlier this year.
- Stewart, 31, of Phoenix, Arizona, also owns wins over Matt McKinney, Rafael Rios, and Waldo Cortes Acosta.
- Olguin, a 36-year-old southpaw from South Jordan, Utah, won on the strength of two 58-56 scores. The third judge scored the bout 57-57.