The pound-for-pound must-see star, Naoya Inoue sees action this Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan, as he defends his undisputed super bantamweight gold against the veteran TJ Doheny at Ariake Arena.
Top Rank promote Inoue vs Doheny and the show can be seen on Sky Sports in the UK, and ESPN + in the USA.
Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) is an elite level technician, with highlight-reel knockout power in both hands, and is now the boss at 122 pounds after reigning as undisputed bantamweight world champion, completing the set with a dominant eleventh round knockout of Paul Butler to win the WBO belt in December 2022.
‘The Monster’ has also reigned at light flyweight and super flyweight as a world champion.
The 31-year-old moved up to super bantamweight in July last year, and arrived to the division in style, diffusing Stephen Fulton and then relieving him of his WBC and WBO world titles in an eighth round stoppage win, and he then cleaned out the division on Boxing Day 2023, knocking out WBA and IBF king Marlon Tapales in ten.
Inoue made the first defence of his undisputed titles in May, as he climbed off the canvas for the first time in his career, to stop Luis Nery in six rounds at the Toyko Dome.
He now faces the seasoned Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), who is enjoying an Indian Summer to his career.
The Irishman upset the odds to become IBF super bantamweight champion in 2018, travelling to Japan to dethrone Ryosuke Iwasa on the cards, but after one defence, he lost a majority verdict to Daniel Roman having been on the deck twice.
🇯🇵 Naoya Inoue is in 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐘 shape 💪👹
📸 @naoyainoue_410#Boxing #InoueDoheny #NaoyaInoue pic.twitter.com/sp73rZ0IOh
— Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans) August 27, 2024
After further losses to Ionut Baluta (UD8), Michael Conlan (UD12) and Sam Goodman (UD10), it looked like Doheny’s career was over, but the 37-year-old has rejuvenated himself in Japan, taking a hattrick of stoppage wins against favoured prospects.
‘The Power’ was last out in May on the same card as Inoue, stopping the 7-0-1 Bryl Bayogos in four rounds.
Prediction: Inoue is on a different level to most, and should have way too much for the visitor. I expect him to remove his opponent from battle before halfway.
Takei defends world title
The undercard sees more world title action, as Yoshiki Takei makes a first defence of his WBO bantamweight title against Daigo Higa.
Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) won the belt in May, turning in a mature performance to clearly outscore Jason Moloney, going the distance and twelve rounds for the first time.
Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs) is a former WBC champion at flyweight, and has won four on the spin since losing a decision to Ryosuke Nishida in April 2021.
Prediction: Takei is an impressive talent, and he can make a statement first defence by halting the more experienced Higa.
Barroso battles Hiraoka
Former world lightweight champion Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) breathed new life into his career in January by wiping Ohara Davies out inside a round in Las Vegas, but now faces unbeaten Japanese knockout artist, Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs) over a scheduled twelve rounds.
Prediction: I favour the fresher home fighter to take the win with a late stoppage here.
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Remaining Undercard
Jin Sasaki (17-1-1, 16 KOs) puts his WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental & Pacific Federation welterweight titles on the line against Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8 KOs), and he should come through on the scorecards.
Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3, 12 KOs) can defend his Japanese super bantamweight title by outscoring Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1, 9 KOs).
