Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super bantamweight championship with an injury-induced seventh round-stoppage of Ireland’s TJ Doheny at the Ariake Arena on Tuesday. The official time was 0:16 and Las Vegas awaits for one of the true superstars of the sport.
Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) put forth a measured and disciplined approach against the hard-hitting Doheny early and was in command and looking for the finish by the midway point. However, at the beginning of round seven, Doheny cringed after a body attack and claimed he’d suffered what looked like a back injury. The referee intervened immediately and waved the bout over.
Inoue wiped out the super bantamweight division by blasting out Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales to become undisputed champion. Following that, the Japanese hero disposed of the most dangerous puncher in the division when he got off the canvas to knock Luis Nery out cold.
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Only former world champ Murodjon Akhmadaliev and unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman are left at 122 pounds and both would open as huge underdogs against the Japanese powerhouse. Consequently, there are calls for “The Monster” to move up to featherweight and chase a fifth divisional title.
“I understand that he’ll defend his title in Tokyo at the end of the year, then we’re taking him to the United States for a big celebration in Las Vegas,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
Inoue is hurting Doheny 😳#InoueDoheny | LIVE on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/EIc4cgcvgU
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 3, 2024
In his post-fight interview, Inoue said: “I think it was an accumulation [of punishment]. I continued my fight one [round] round at a time, and I know that boxing is not easy. I slowed him down and gave my opponent damage.
“Probably this fight didn’t end the way we expected, but I have a long career, so please expect more in the next match. I am still in progress. I’d like to celebrate the fight TJ Doheny brought to this ring and his career.”
The champion picked up the first two rounds with aggression and by targeting the body with the right hand. The Japanese fighter theatrically lifted his lead foot every time Doheny stood on it (a common problem when an orthodox fighter faces a southpaw) and was having fun. However, Doheny came to life in the third by attacking the body himself and threading home some cute headshots.
More irritated than anything else, Inoue went to work from round four onward. He continually trapped the Irishman in the corners and pounded him to the body with both hands. As the rounds passed, the punishment increased and the noise of the shots landing became louder and louder.
At the end of round six, Doheny took a sustained blizzard of shots all around his body and head, which may have contributed to the injury that ended the fight seconds into the next session. It wasn’t the drama one expects from The Monster Show, but these things happen in contact sports.
Doheny drops to 26-5 (20 KOs).
How to watch Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny
- Channel/live stream: ESPN+
Fight fans can watch Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $10.99 on a monthly subscription and $109.99 on an annual subscription.
WATCH: Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny, exclusively on ESPN+
Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny start time
- Date: Tuesday, September 3
- Time: 5:45 a.m. ET | 2:45 a.m. PT (Outside of the U.S., the international broadcast begins at 2:30 a.m. ET)
- Main event start time (approx.): 7:30 a.m. ET | 4:30 a.m. PT
- Location: Ariake Arena — Tokyo, Japan
The Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny main card airs at 5:45 a.m. ET. Inoue and Doheny should make their way to the ring around 7:30 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny start time in Japan
Inoue vs. Doheny starts at 6:45 p.m. local time. The main event should begin around 8:30 p.m. local time, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny fight card
- Naoya Inoue (c) def. TJ Doheny via TKO 7 (0:16) for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring Magazine super bantamweight titles
- Yoshiki Takei (c) def. Daigo Higa via UD 12 (115-112, 114-113, 114-113) for the WBO bantamweight title
- Andy Hiraoka def. Ismael Barroso via TKO 9 (2:58); Super lightweights
- Jin Sasaki def. Qamil Balla via TKO 7 (0:52); Welterweights
- Toshiki Shimomachi def. Ryuya Tsugawa via UD 10 (97-92, 96-93, 96-93); Super Bantamweights
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