Jason Moloney reckons he's winning the war with Father Time as the 35-year-old prepares to headline on home soil for the first time since becoming a world boxing champion.
The popular bantamweight will face American Andre Donovan at Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall on Thursday, headlining a stacked Stan Sport card that includes Ben Mahoney, Conor Wallace and Max McIntyre.
Moloney (28-4) won and defended the WBO title strap in brutal fights in Californian and Quebec more than two years ago before back-to-back losses in Tokyo blockbusters to world-class pair Yoshiki Takei and Tenshin Nasukawa.
His only other losses came against pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue in 2020 and two-time world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2018.
Now fighting under the Tasman Fighters banner, Moloney has earned headline status in what is practically a hometown fight for the Kingscliff-based talent.
Victory would push Moloney towards the top of the WBC, IBF and WBO rankings and "one phone call away" from another title shot.
Twin brother Andrew will fight for the IBF's super-flyweight world title against Willibaldo Garcia in Japan on June 6 and the unrealised dream is for the pair to both hold belts at the same time.
"People can write me off if they want," Moloney told AAP.
"The guys that have beaten me have been undefeated world champions and with all respect to Donovan I don't think he's at my level and it's my job to prove that.
"The division's wide open and I look at all the current champions and think I can beat all of them."
Moloney thinks his experiences, particularly in Japan, have helped him find new gears in what is looming as a defining late chapter in a 13-year professional career.
"Those losses haven't derailed me, they've helped me progress," he said.
"I know people say 'age is only a number', but when you live the life I live, you're as committed as I am, you look after your body.
"I'm boxing better than I ever have and (trainer) Angelo Hyder said that to me last night after our last session and he doesn't sugar coat it.
"As you're getting older you know your time's going to come, but I still have time to achieve the goals I want to achieve."
