By Sean Crose
TJ Doheny presented a significant challenge to the pound-for-pound sensation Naoya Inoue in their recent bout, marking a tough fight for Inoue since his memorable clash with Nonito Donaire in 2019. Despite Inoue’s dominance in the ring on Tuesday, Doheny, an experienced challenger, managed to give the unified super bantamweight champion a run for his money. The fight was captivating but unfortunately ended sooner than expected.
The initial round was rather uneventful, with Inoue seemingly having trouble with Doheny’s southpaw jab. Inoue found his rhythm in the second round, delivering impactful shots and finishing with a strong body combination. Despite Doheny’s persistent jab in the third, he may have edged out the round.
Doheny had a commendable fourth round, but Inoue’s punches were more forceful, precise, and cleaner. Inoue displayed confidence in the fifth, landing significant body shots while relentlessly pursuing Doheny. In the sixth round, Inoue continued his dominance as Doheny fought back with potent punches. However, Inoue unleashed a flurry of punches toward the end of the round.
Suddenly, in the seventh round, Doheny ceased fighting, moving weakly across the ring and eventually taking a knee. The referee had no choice but to stop the fight. Despite this, Doheny, showing his fighting spirit, congratulated Inoue after recovering. It was an exhilarating match while it lasted.
“This fight didn’t end as we expected,” remarked Inoue (via The Guardian) after the fight. “But with a career as lengthy as mine, nights like these can happen.” Addressing the audience at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Inoue acknowledged Doheny’s efforts in the ring.
While some felt Inoue didn’t showcase his best against the determined Doheny, Inoue expressed confidence in his future performances. “You can expect more from me in the future,” he stated. “To all the fans worldwide, thank you for watching this fight. I still have a long journey ahead; this is not my limit.”
*Images: Top Rank
