The 35-year-old Australian won a 12-round majority decision over Willibaldo Garcia to annex the IBF junior bantamweight world title.

"I'm the happiest person in the whole world," Moloney (29-4, 18 KOs) proudly told The Ring.

Moloney, who moved up one place to No. 4 in The Ring's junior bantamweight rankings, did well in the early stages and built a lead before the tough Mexican made a stand and forced his way back into their fight.

"I haven't watched it back yet, but felt I got off to a good start," he said. "I lost momentum in rounds nine through 11, my team told me we might need to win this last round to get the fight. That's all I needed to hear."

Heading into the final round, his corner was later proved correct. The fight hung in the balance, Moloney narrowly ahead by a point on two scorecards and trailing by one point on the other. He swept it on all three judges' scorecards to claim a famous win on away soil.

"I wasn't prepared to let this moment slip, I dug extremely deep in the last round and produced probably my best round of the fight," said the new champion.

"It's scary to think how different everything would be right now if I didn't push myself to secure that last round. 20 plus years of work came down to the final three minutes and I'm just so happy I got the job done."

Still, the veteran had to wait for the scorecards and a result announcement in Japanese.

"It was the longest 30 seconds of my life," he said. "I felt I had done enough but was extremely nervous. I've been on the end of some bad decisions, and come to almost expect the worst from this sport but just so happy things went my way. I can't even describe the feeling I had when my arm was raised."

Moloney, who turned pro in October 2014, fell short in a three-fight series with Joshua Franco for the WBA bauble before suffering a last-round stoppage defeat by Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO strap in May 2023. Those experiences helped steel him and double down on his desire: anything that is worth having doesn't come easily.

"That was what has made me work so hard every single day," he continued. "I've dedicated my whole life to this sport and being world champion. I wasn't going to be denied."

It brought an end to a difficult couple of years, during which he has won four of his last five fights.

"I've not been able to get many fights and have had to fight on small shows for no money to keep active and climb the rankings," he said. "I've spent a lot of money on training camps and then had fights fall through."

Moloney turned down a reported $250,000 step aside fee, which would've allowed Garcia to face Jesse Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) for the Ring and undisputed 115-pound championships. What makes that all the more surprising is he would've made just $47,250 after the purse bid as the challenger.

"I had big financial offers to step aside and not fight for the world title," he said.

"It all felt like a big test to see how much I really wanted it. I'm so glad I stuck to my morals. That step aside money wouldn't have come close to replacing the feeling I have right now as world champion."

His manager Tony Tolj, who previously also guided his twin brother Jason to the WBO bantamweight title, is thrilled to have helped his fighter reach the top after several years of blood, sweat and tears.

"That's what boxing's all about," he said. "It's the moments, the journey. That's what makes it all worthwhile."

Moloney, his team and a contingent celebrated his triumph into the small hours.

"We had around 25 people travel over to Japan to support me," he said. "We went back to the hotel bar, ate plenty of good food and had a few beers."

Though he's still enjoying the moment, he did say who he would like next though doubts it will happen after news this week confirming Rodriguez vacating his trio of 115-pound world titles.

"I was hoping we'd get the undisputed fight with Bam [Rodriguez] next but it's looking like he will most likely stay up at bantamweight. If we can't make that then we will look at other options most likely over here in Japan."