After two postponements and a last-minute venue switch, Andrew Moloney has withdrawn from this weekend’s IBF 115lbs eliminator with Argi Cortés. The fight, originally set for July 19 in Monterrey, then moved to August 9 in Durango, was pushed one more week to Saturday, August 16 and relocated to Cortés’ hometown of Mexico City. That final change was enough for Moloney to bow out.
Cortés (27-4-2, 11 KOs) will keep the show alive ESPN Knockout, now facing late replacement Bairon Rodríguez (11-3, 7 KOs). With Rodríguez unranked by the IBF, the bout loses its eliminator status and the direct path it promised—likely toward newly crowned titlist Willibaldo Garcia. “I really felt bad,” Cortés said, noting weeks of technical prep tailored to Moloney were effectively scrapped.
Even without the sanctioning carrot, the assignment matters for momentum. Cortés has rebuilt with two wins since going the full 12 with Junto Nakatani in a 2023 title bid, following his 2022 thriller with Juan Francisco Estrada. His most recent outing was a ninth-round KO of Salvador Juarez last August in Mexico City - same city, similar stakes: win and stay in the title queue.
Rodríguez, a 20-year-old Colombian based in Barcelona, steps up on short notice after dropping three of his last four. The slide began with a points loss to unbeaten Yahir Alan Frank Verdugo in Merida, followed by a decision defeat to Alexis Diaz, a TKO of Andres Cifuentes, and another decision loss to Bruno Macho. It’s a big ask in the away corner, but an even bigger opportunity.
Fight card:
▪️Bairon Rodríguez vs. Argi Cortes, 12 rounds, super flyweight
