Naoya Inoue is set to face TJ Doheny for the undisputed super-bantamweight world championship at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Tuesday, September 3. Inoue, a two-weight undisputed champion, holds the IBF, WBO, WBC, and WBA titles at 122 lbs, while Irishman Doheny, based in Australia, is a former IBF champion.
What’s on the Undercard?
The chief support bout features an all-Japanese showdown between Yoshiki Takei and Daigo Higa for the WBO bantamweight championship. Both fighters are known for their punching power, with Higa achieving 19 of his 21 wins by knockout. Takei remains undefeated with a record of 9-0, including a victory over Jason Moloney to claim the WBO title.
Yokohama’s Andy Hiraoka will also face Ismael Barroso in a WBA super-lightweight eliminator, with additional matches including Jin Sasaki vs. Qamil Balla and Toshiki Shimomachi vs. Ryuya Tsugawa.
Where Can I Watch?
Viewers can catch the live action starting at 7:30 AM on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event on Tuesday. The main event ring walks are expected around 12:15 PM.
Is Inoue the Pound-for-Pound No. 1?
Pound-for-pound rankings are subjective, often debated among fans and analysts. Currently, Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and Naoya Inoue are considered the top contenders for the title of the best fighter across all weights. While Crawford has shown dominance, Inoue has consistently outperformed his competition in multiple divisions. Usyk’s success over heavyweight champions such as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has also solidified his standing, positioning him as the pound-for-pound No. 1 according to the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, with Inoue at No. 2.
Could Doheny Upset Inoue?
Defeating Naoya Inoue is one of the toughest challenges in boxing. However, TJ Doheny will aim to exploit any vulnerabilities, particularly after Inoue was briefly dropped in his last fight. At 37 years old, Doheny has lost four times in his 30-fight career but remains a formidable opponent, having secured 20 of his 26 victories by knockout.
Doheny has notable success against Japanese fighters, boasting a 3-0 record against them and going 4-0 on Japanese soil. He won the IBF super-bantamweight title from Ryosuke Iwasa in August 2018 and defended it with an 11th-round TKO against Ryohei Takahashi.
Inoue will be looking to continue his impressive streak and become the first fighter to stop Doheny, further solidifying his status as one of boxing’s elite.
Credit: Sky Sports
