Experienced former WBO bantamweight titleholder Jason Moloney will be an interested bystander when former opponent Tenshin Nasukawa faces Takuma Inoue on November 24.

The popular Nasukawa (7-0, 2 KOs) and former WBA ruler Inoue (20-2, 5 KOs) will meet for the vacant WBC title at the Toyota Arena, Tokyo.

"It's a good fight," Moloney (27-4, 19 KOs) told The Ring. "It frustrates me that it's not me in one corner fighting for the world title and knowing what could have been, but this is an intriguing fight and one that I will be watching closely with ambitions towards fighting the winner."

The 34-year-old Australian lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Nasukawa back in February and is well placed to assess his skillset.

"He's a good fighter: Fast hands, slick movements and clever in the ring," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Tenshin but I know I could have and should have beaten him."

And while he's never shared a ring with Inoue, he has followed him for a number of years.

"I've never sparred with Takuma but have watched him lots, it's always been a fight that I've really wanted," he said. "I think Takuma is a good fighter and I'm interested to see how he handles Tenshin and how he approaches the fight."

When all is said and done, he sides with the new kid on the block.

"I think Tenshin will win a points decision," he predicted. "I think his speed and movements will cause Takuma trouble.

"I'm not sure either fighter has the power to win by knockout, so I'm predicting a bit of a chess match with Tenshin taking home the belt."

Inoue (20-2, 5 KOs), rated at No. 4 by The Ring at bantamweight, is talented in his own right, he remains in his older brother, Naoya’s shadow. He won the OPBF 115-pound title in just his fifth fight, made two defenses before stepping up to bantamweight. He continued to gain experience before he lost his unbeaten record in a WBC title shot against Nordine Oubaali (UD 12). The 29-year-old beat Keita Kurihara (TD 9) to pick up the OPBF 118-pound belt.

He then moved up to 122 pounds for a period before reverting back to 118 in the wake of Naoya vacating his undisputed championship. He picked up the vacant WBA title against Liborio Solis (UD 12) and made two defenses, including a career best, halting former junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas (KO 9). He then surprisingly lost his title to Seiya Tsutsumi (UD 12) last October.

Nasukawa (7-0, 2 KOs), rated at No. 8 by The Ring at bantamweight, came to prominence after a standout MMA and kickboxing career. The soon-to-be 27-year-old engaged in an exhibition against boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2018.

He reverted to boxing in April 2023. Since then, he has improved immeasurably and notably has wins over Moloney (UD 10) and Victor Santillan (UD 10).