9/3/24 ESPN+: Naoya Monster Inoue vs TJ Doheny (Undisputed Super Bantamweight Championship)

[patscorpio]

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TOKYO (July 16, 2024) — Pound-for-pound icon Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend his undisputed super bantamweight world championship against Irish-born former world champion TJ Doheny on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Inoue, a two-weight undisputed king, has knocked out eight consecutive foes.

Inoue-Doheny headlines a star-studded card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. This special early morning broadcast will also include WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) defending his belt against former flyweight world champion Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs).

Venezuelan puncher Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) will defend his interim junior welterweight world title versus rising Japanese contender Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs) in undercard action.

“Naoya Inoue is a generational talent, and every time he fights, the boxing world stops to watch the master at work,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “TJ Doheny is a veteran who can never be counted out, as he’s defied the odds many times when fighting in Japan.”

Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) claimed his first world title more than 10 years ago and is 22-0 with 20 knockouts in world championship fights. Inoue’s undisputed legacy began in December 2022 when he knocked out Paul Butler to unify all the bantamweight titles. He then consolidated the super bantamweight division in short order, capturing the WBC and WBO world titles by stopping Stephen Fulton in eight in July 2023 before vanquishing WBA/IBF champion Marlon Tapales that December. The 31-year-old powerhouse, named 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN and Ring Magazine, returned to headline at the historic Tokyo Dome in May. In the first boxing card there since Buster Douglas shocked Mike Tyson in 1990, Inoue survived a first-round knockdown to KO Mexican two-division champ Luis Nery in six.

Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) has a rich history in Japan and against Japanese fighters. He is 3-0 against Japanese fighters and 4-0 on Japanese soil, with three victories as the betting underdog. Doheny dethroned IBF junior featherweight world champion Ryosuke Iwasa on enemy territory in August 2018. He defended the belt against Japanese challenger Ryohei Takahashi via 11th-round TKO the following January before losing the strap to Danny Roman in a close unification fight that April. Despite some setbacks, Doheny has rebounded with three consecutive wins on Japanese turf. He defeated Kazuki Nakajima via fourth-round TKO in June 2023, blasted out Japhethlee Llamido by first-round stoppage last October, and triumphed over Bryl Bayogos in four rounds on the Inoue-Nery undercard.

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[TDUBB]

He knocks out TJ within 6 rounds and then he moves up.

I don’t think Sam Goodman will ever step inside the ring with Inoue. His broken hand will remain broken until Inoue leaves 122.

 

[patscorpio]

ill never understand TR sometimes...their american cards have been suffering from shoddy matchmaking but the japanese cards they co promote, they get it right

those 2 undercard fights should be straight up slugfests

 

[chunky_mcdaniels]

He knocks out TJ within 6 rounds and then he moves up.

I don’t think Sam Goodman will ever step inside the ring with Inoue. His broken hand will remain broken until Inoue leaves 122.

That's an interesting view, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventuated that way.

Mind you the word is Saudi Arabia in December for Goodman and Inoue. That's a legit source.

*side note. You think Inoue moves up again? Im not so sure, he has to put on a lot of weight, he's a tiny guy, and he's already had the injectable stimulus the last two weight jumps.

 

[patscorpio]

That's an interesting view, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventuated that way.

Mind you the word is Saudi Arabia in December for Goodman and Inoue. That's a legit source.

*side note. You think Inoue moves up again? Im not so sure, he has to put on a lot of weight, he's a tiny guy, and he's already had the injectable stimulus the last two weight jumps.

He is absolutely going up to 126

 

[2 Up 2 Down]

ill never understand TR sometimes...their american cards have been suffering from shoddy matchmaking but the japanese cards they co promote, they get it right

those 2 undercard fights should be straight up slugfests

That's because the Japanese promotion company is putting it together.

 

[TDUBB]

He is absolutely going up to 126

A prospect Jonathan Lopez sparred Inoue and he says he’s strong enough to go up to 130-135

 

[TDUBB]

Roy knows whats up

 

[TDUBB]

That's an interesting view, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventuated that way.

Mind you the word is Saudi Arabia in December for Goodman and Inoue. That's a legit source.

*side note. You think Inoue moves up again? Im not so sure, he has to put on a lot of weight, he's a tiny guy, and he's already had the injectable stimulus the last two weight jumps.

So they really fighting in December? Was this a done deal after he broke his hand fighting some Maui Thai fighter. Let’s see. Time will tell. But what a waste. What did Sam Goodman gain by this tune up bout? He didn’t get any better. If anything he got worse now he gotta fight Inoue with one hand smh.

 

[Bigblackted4]

They should call this card night night because it’s gone be some people getting slept

 

[patscorpio]

They should call this card night night because it’s gone be some people getting slept

 

[Mashal88]

Hopefully Barroso is getting a good payday because it's a joke that he hasn't been able to fight as the mandatory for the full WBA title. And to fight this young up and coming kid? He deserves the fight against Cruz, win or lose. Best believe though that Hiraoka will be tested by the old man.

 

[patscorpio]

Hopefully Barroso is getting a good payday because it's a joke that he hasn't been able to fight as the mandatory for the full WBA title. And to fight this young up and coming kid? He deserves the fight against Cruz, win or lose. Best believe though that Hiraoka will be tested by the old man.

Facts. Barroso should be fighting Cruz on his excellency's card. If he beats Hiraoka they better call for whoever is the full WBA champ afterwards

 

[Tommy Gibbs]

A prospect Jonathan Lopez sparred Inoue and he says he’s strong enough to go up to 130-135

I love inoue, but guys like Tank and De los santos will stretch him. I think he should campaign at 126 for a while(and it's no walk in the park there either with Vargas and Lopez) and max out at 130. As much of a puncher that Arguello was, he maxed out at 140 and he hit Pryor with EVERYTHING he had, that would have ko'd those at LW and under, and he kept coming. Learn from history and don't repeat it. Inoue is already 31 so it aint like he's got 10 years left in his career.

 

[patscorpio]

I love inoue, but guys like Tank and De los santos will stretch him. I think he should campaign at 126 for a while(and it's no walk in the park there either with Vargas and Lopez) and max out at 130. As much of a puncher that Arguello was, he maxed out at 140 and he hit Pryor with EVERYTHING he had, that would have ko'd those at LW and under, and he kept coming. Learn from history and don't repeat it. Inoue is already 31 so it aint like he's got 10 years left in his career.

Rey Vargas? ...and mentioning 2 135 cats in Tank and De Los Santos