Tomorrow UK lunchtime (Sept 3), live from Tokyo, Japan, ‘The Monster’ returns !
Ring Magazine 2023 Fighter of the Year and four-weight world champion Naoya Inoue defends his undisputed junior-featherweight (122 pounds/8st, 8lbs) title against former IBF champion T J Doheny from Ireland.
The 31 year old Japanese, Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), is a modern-day boxing phenomenon who transcends the sport in the Far East and is also ranked Ring Magazine pound-for-pound #1. The considered ‘best is the business’.
Last time out, he sold out the 40,000 Tokyo Dome for a boxing first time since ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson v James ‘Buster’ Douglas back in February 1990. Inoue emphatically stopped previous belt champion Luis Nery to become a four-weight divisional world champion. Two of those being undisputed.
Tomorrow’s fight is in the smaller Ariake Arena, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue. It’s the sheer staging of an Inoue fight that means he has to revert to the smaller venue this time, plus, the need for a ‘SuperFight’ against a more decorated or dangerous opponent. If the Yokohama phenomenon remains undefeated, which is expected, that is sure to come.
Doheny, (26-4, 20 KOs) a good southpaw, but aged 37, is likely to be outgunned by the hard-hitting Inoue. Probably emphatically, sometime before the 7th round.
‘The Monster’ machine should keep rolling on on as he continues to move through the divisions in the lighter weight classes. He has so far won ‘world’ titles from light-flyweight (108lbs/7st, 10lbs) up to his current top registered fighting weight. How far can he go ? is the big question…
Catch it tomorrow if you can. The majority of this Top Rank Inc. co-promoted card will be shown live on Sky Sports for most of Tuesday morning through to the lunchtime highlight main event.
Inoue is not to be missed and although he should come through convincingly, with boxing one never knows ! Enjoy.
The Undisputed 