Naoya Inoue to Defend Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title Against TJ Doheny
Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue returns to the ring for his second defense of the undisputed super bantamweight title against Ireland’s TJ Doheny.
Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue, currently ranked No. 3 pound-for-pound by ESPN, will defend his undisputed super bantamweight championship against TJ Doheny in September in Tokyo, sources told ESPN. This will be Inoue’s second defense of the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC titles at 122 pounds, and the fight will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the United States in the morning.
Inoue, 31, is coming off a sixth-round technical knockout victory over Luis Nery in May, a bout that drew nearly 60,000 fans to the Tokyo Dome, once again showcasing the popularity and talent of the Japanese champion. The last time Inoue fought outside his homeland was in June 2021, when he secured a victory in Las Vegas.
Inoue, with an undefeated record of 27-0, including 24 knockouts, was knocked down in the first round of his fight against Nery but quickly recovered to secure a comfortable victory. That knockdown was the first in Inoue’s career. The upcoming bout with Doheny will be Inoue’s fourth at 122 pounds, following victories over Stephen Fulton, Marlon Tapales, and Luis Nery.
On the other hand, TJ Doheny, a 37-year-old Irishman residing in Australia, enters this fight as a significant underdog. Doheny has won three consecutive fights since his decision loss to Sam Goodman, all in Japan. With a record of 26-4, including 20 knockouts, Doheny has proven to be a formidable contender. He is a former bantamweight champion, known for his victories over Japanese fighters, including a surprising decision win over Ryosuke Iwasa in August 2018 and a successful defense against Ryohei Takahashi. However, he lost his title in a unification bout against Daniel Román in April 2019 and also fell to Michael Conlan in August 2021.
Inoue also has mandatory defenses pending against Australian Sam Goodman, who suffered a hand fracture during a recent victory in Australia, and Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Get ready for an exciting battle in Tokyo as Inoue seeks to maintain his undisputed status in the super bantamweight division!