Argi Cortes and Andrew Moloney are on the clock to reach terms for a fight that will provide a title shot for the winner.

BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has ordered a final elimination bout between the abovementioned junior bantamweight contenders. Both boxers informed the sanctioning body of their intention to proceed with the bout, after which a 15-day negotiation period was assigned at the start of the month. 

“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,” IBF Championship Committee chairman Carlos Ortiz notified both camps in a ruling obtained by BoxingScene. “In an effort to determine who the mandatory challenger will be, the IBF is ordering the [eliminator] for #1 between Argi Cortes and Andrew [Moloney].” 

A deal must be reached by May 15 to avoid a purse bid hearing. 

Cortes is promoted by Zanfer Boxing, headed by Fernando Beltran. Moloney is represented in talks by Tony Tolj, who has guided the former secondary titlist since his pro debut. 

Mexico City’s Cortes, 27-4-2 (11 KOs), has become best known for his spirited defeats more so than any given victory. 

He is the only fighter to go the distance with Junto Nakatani in a title fight, extending the three-division titlist the full 12 rounds in a September 2023 points loss. The setback – which took place in Tokyo, Japan – saw Cortes fail to claim the WBO junior bantamweight title. 

That moment came 54 weeks after his heartbreaking loss to countryman and then-lineal junior bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada in their September 2022 thriller in Hermosillo, Mexico. 

Cortes rebounded from the defeat to Nakatani with two wins. His most recent victory came in a ninth-round knockout of Salvador Juarez last August 4 at home in Mexico City. 

Australia’s Moloney, 27-4 (17 KOs), previously held a secondary version of the WBA junior bantamweight title. He lost it to Joshua Franco in their June 2020 meeting for his first defeat, and in a fight that sparked a trilogy. Moloney ended the series at 0-2 with one No-Contest, all three bouts which took place in the US. 

A four-fight win streak paved the way to a May 2022 vacant WBO 115lbs. title fight with Nakatani. Moloney landed on the very wrong end of a violent 12th round knockout, as he was starched with just 18 seconds to go in their meeting in Las Vegas. 

Moloney has since won two of his last three contests. The lone defeat was a narrow split decision to Pedro Guevara in their interim WBC junior bantamweight title fight last May 12 in Perth, Australia. 

In his most recent start, Moloney knocked out Jakrawut Majungoen in the fourth round last December 15 in Flemington, Australia. He was then summoned to enter talks with former four-division champ Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 52-4 (42 KOs), a fight he long craved. 

However, talks never got off the ground, which prompted Moloney’s team to explore the IBF route. 

The winner of the final eliminator will become the mandatory challenge to the still vacant IBF 115lbs. title. As previously reported by BoxingScene, Willibaldo Garcia and Rene Calixto are due to run it back on May 23 to fill that void, five months after their memorable split decision draw with the same belt at stake. 

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.