Sports

TJ Doheny Seeking to Conquer Super Bantamweight King Naoya Inoue

Challenger TJ Doheny has been cleverly maneuvered into this position and has the opportunity to create a seismic boxing shock on September 3 in Tokyo.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 31, 2024

Colin Morrison

TJ Doheny is 26-4 with 20 knockouts in his pro boxing career. (©KYODO)

GLASGOW — For the third time in nine months, boxing fans will get to witness one of the sport's best in the ring. Naoya "Monster" Inoue (27-0, 24 knockouts) takes on TJ Doheny, (26-4, 20 KOs) on Tuesday, September 3. Inoue brings his undefeated record and undisputed super bantamweight crown to Ariake Arena in Tokyo looking to build on his growing legendary status within the sport.

A native of Ireland who resides in New South Wales, Australia, Doheny is a former world champion in the super bantamweight division. He will be known to hardcore boxing fans in Japan as he has boxed there four times as a professional.

Now 37 years old, Doheny, thanks to some good management and planning, is enjoying a late-career renaissance. Japan has been the base for Doheny getting back on track during the past 15 months, so it is fitting that he now finds himself facing the biggest challenge in boxing ― trying to defeat the "Monster" in Tokyo.

It's a big ask for any fighter. But, like any competitor, Doheny believes he is the man to hand Inoue his first career defeat. Can the southpaw, known as "The Power" find a way to triumph in Tokyo and become the undisputed champion at 122 pounds (55.3 kg)?

SportsLook takes a closer look.

TJ Doheny's Story So Far

By the time Doheny made his professional debut in 2012 he had already been living in Australia for three years. His first 14 pro contests all took place in Australia ― Doheny was moved quickly in the early stages of his career as he won all 14 of these bouts convincingly. Ten wins were by stoppage as he justified his nickname. As early as his fifth bout, Doheny won a regional title ― the Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) super bantamweight belt.

From there Doheny boxed three times in Massachusetts (United States), once in Thailand, with one more bout in Australia thrown in for good measure.

With his record then standing at 19-0, Doheny traveled to Japan to challenge Ryosuke Iwasa for the IBF super bantamweight title in August 2018.

Doheny proved he belonged at a world-class level that night by scoring a deserved unanimous decision victory over the defending champion.

Title Defense Followed by Four Losses

In January 2019, Doheny took his title to the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York where he bested another Japanese boxer, Ryohei Takahashi, via 11th-round stoppage. Doheny's win in New York was convincing and it set him up for a unification bout against then-WBA title holder Danny Roman.

Roman and Doheny clashed three months later in California. Doheny tasted his first career defeat, losing by a majority decision.

Since then Doheny has won five and lost three of his bouts. Decision defeats to Ionut Baluta (2020), Michael Conlan (2021) and Sam Goodman, a potential future Inoue opponent, in 2023 suggest that Doheny is durable enough to go the distance with current fighters operating just below the world championship level. But it also suggests that he can't land his powerful left hand often enough against skilled operators to deliver the stoppages that punctuated his early professional bouts.

Rebuilding in Japan

When faced with adversity, boxers can choose to leave the sport or look for another pathway to future title fights. TJ Doheny, managed by Sean Gibbons and Mike Altamura, decided to stay in the sport and box in Japan. If the plan all along was to target Inoue, then it has worked out perfectly. However, if it has fallen into place via some luck, there's nothing wrong with that either.

Dusting himself off from the Goodman defeat in March 2023, Doheny boxed at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall three months later. He returned in October 2023 to the same venue. Although opponents Kazuki Nakajima and Japhetlee Llamido may not be household names, Doheny did his job, stopping both men early in the respective contests.

Following those successes, Doheny earned himself a spot on the Inoue-Nery undercard at Tokyo Dome on May 6. Again he won by early knockout ― vanquishing opponent Bryl Bayogos in the fourth round. These three victories earned Doheny the chance of a lifetime. Now he needs to find a way to defeat the "Monster."

Assessing Doheny's Chances vs Inoue

When he steps through the ropes at Ariake Arena on Tuesday evening, Doheny can't allow the magnitude of the task ahead to intimidate him.

Throughout his career, one of Doheny's best assets has been his mental toughness. He is also known for his punch resilience and determination in the ring. And he will need to rely on all three of these attributes against Inoue.

Doheny is also a pressure fighter, employing a relentless attack based on a high-punch output. As his record suggests he carries power, although as mentioned he has found it difficult to land his best shots against better-caliber opponents recently.

That can all change in an instant in boxing ― as we all know it only takes one punch ― so Doheny definitely has a puncher's chance against Inoue.

Boxing out of the southpaw stance is usually an advantage but Inoue is getting rather used to facing left-handers. His last two opponents, Marlon Tapales and Luis Nery, are southpaws and we all know what happened to them.

Doheny will have noted how Nery found a gap in Inoue's defense with his left hand in the opening round of that contest. He has to believe he can do the same against the great champion.

While it's unlikely to be enough to dethrone Inoue, plenty of underdogs with only a "puncher's chance" have succeeded throughout boxing history. So it would be foolish to completely write off Doheny's chances here.

Some Words From Doheny and Gibbons

On September 3, we will get the answer to whether or not Doheny's punching power can trouble Inoue. But for now, the Irish boxer and his team are speaking with confidence.

Currently, on a three-fight knockout streak, Doheny is confident his power can trouble Inoue.

"It's no secret I'm big for the weight, so I have that strength and everybody knows about my punch power," Doheny told The Ring recently.

The fighter, who is ranked as the No 7 super bantamweight in the world by The Ring continued. "I think I bring a different type of challenge than Inoue's previous opponents. The last two were both career bantamweights, I'm a career super bantamweight. In terms of preparation and stuff, I just need to get myself in the best physical shape and we'll see how the fight plays out."

Manager Sean Gibbons also spoke confidently about his fighter's chances against Inoue.

"TJ is a very deserving opponent. He has a storied history in Japan and he peaked at the right time," Gibbons told BoxingScene in August.

"I think he is going to surprise people. Inoue has never really been hit because he's that good. He [TJ] has nothing to lose. He'll come in relaxed and comfortable," the experienced boxing manager continued.

Concluding, Gibbons' remarks perhaps revealed that Doheny will indeed fight to his strengths in Tokyo on Tuesday: "TJ brings a lot to the table and he has to try to mug him and rough him up because he's not going to outbox him. TJ is physically a very strong guy ― I don't think he will lose steam. He's going to get in [close], stay on top of Inoue and bang to his body to try and slow him down."

Big Fight Prediction

As mentioned, good career management has brought Doheny to this point. He now needs to impose his style and tactics on Inoue flawlessly to pull off the upset win.

Can he do it? He has a chance but the more realistic outcome is Inoue winning and becoming the first boxer to stop TJ Doheny.

Expect an exciting tussle for as long as it lasts. Doheny might have a moment or two if he can land his dangerous left flush on Inoue.

Doheny may go looking for some big shots early in the encounter leaving him vulnerable to return fire from his Japanese opponent. Inoue's extra class will enable him to successfully turn away Doheny's challenge in the fourth round. It should be hugely entertaining. Enjoy the fight!

Author: Colin Morrison

Morrison is a freelance sportswriter. Find his stories on SportsLook. Writing since 2016, his byline currently appears on FightsATW.com where he covers boxing. Morrison has previously written for NYFights.com and spitballingpod.com. His main areas of interest are boxing, soccer, golf and rugby union. Morrison is from Scotland and can be found on X (formerly Twitter) @Morrie1981.