Irish-born, Australia-based boxer TJ Doheny is getting ready for the toughest challenge of his career as he prepares to face the legendary Naoya Inoue on September 3 at the Ariake Arena in Japan. Doheny, enters this bout with a world of confidence, having secured three consecutive technical knockout victories in the country, dispatching Bryl Bayogos, Japhethlee Llamido, and Kazuki Nakajima in just nine combined rounds.
Doheny’s history of success in Japan is notable. In 2018, he captured the IBF junior-featherweight title by defeating Ryosuke Iwasa in a competitive unanimous decision. He then successfully defended his title against Japan’s Ryohei Takahashi in New York, bringing his record against Japanese fighters to a perfect 5-0. However, Inoue is a different level of challenge. Widely regarded as the best boxer in the world today, Inoue has ruthlessly dismantled every opponent he has faced over the past 12 years.
Watch Naoya Inoue’s destructive knockout power: Watch
Despite the daunting task ahead, Doheny’s handlers, including boxing agents Sean Gibbons and Mike Altamura, believe their fighter has a legitimate chance to shock the world. Gibbons acknowledges the uphill battle but emphasizes that Doheny’s storied history in Japan and his recent resurgence make him a worthy challenger.
“TJ is a very deserving opponent,” Gibbons said. “He peaked at the right time. I think he is going to surprise people. Inoue has never really been hit because he's that good. TJ brings a lot to the table, and he has nothing to lose.”
As Gibbons puts it, Doheny’s strategy will be to close the distance and target Inoue’s body to try and slow down the relentless champion. But as history has shown, trying to beat Inoue is a monumental task that few have even come close to achieving. For Doheny, this fight represents one last shot at greatness, and for Gibbons, it’s another opportunity to secure a major upset in the boxing world. Whether or not they can succeed remains to be seen.
Read more about the story of TJ Doherty here.
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing