Naoya Inoue's “off night” is nearly any other world-class boxer's best night.
Unified and undisputed junior featherweight champion Inoue of Japan is such a dominant talent, even a performance less than his best takes out nearly any opponent in front of him.
Naoya Inoue had stepped up his offense in rounds six and seven before the TKO of TJ Doheny. Photo: Naoki Fukuda for Top Rank
Former world champion TJ Doheny of Ireland (26-5, 20 KOs) put up a spirited effort, but it couldn’t keep Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) from scoring a seventh-round TKO win Tuesday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. It was the ninth straight stoppage win for Inoue. He is the first person to stop Doheny before the final bell.
Inoue said it wasn’t the ending he expected and asked fans to “keep an eye on me” in the next fight.
“Tonight, I really wanted to continue one fight at a time. I know boxing is not easy. I wanted to slow it down, giving my opponent damage,” said Inoue.
“I am still in progress. I want to celebrate how TJ Doheny brought the fight into this ring, and in his career. You can expect more from me in the future,” added Doheny.
Body Shot Injures Doheny
After taking a hard body shot in round seven, TJ Doheny was unable to use his right leg properly, and the fight was over. Photo: Naoki Fukuda for Top Rank
Fans saw an odd ending to what had been a tactical, even cautious effort from Inoue. Call it respect for Doheny’s power, with the lingering memory of the first-round flash knockdown by Luis Nery in Inoue’s last fight.
Inoue won the early rounds, edging out Doheny due to slightly more offensive activity. Doheny showed his ability to feint and look for his opportunities. Those opportunities paid off in the third and fourth rounds. The former IBF junior featherweight champion landed overland left hooks and avoided Inoue’s skilled counterpunching.
Inoue stepped up his offense in round six. He felt what Doheny had to offer and determined he could take it and take more chances. He began finding success with the body punching that had punished so many previous opponents.
Naoya Inoue showed respect for TJ Doheny's experience and power in early rounds, then closed in. Photo: Naoki Fukuda for Top Rank
Doheny was feeling the shots but still putting up a good effort and wasn’t out of the fight.
In the opening seconds of the seventh round, Inoue seized his opportunity as he sensed Doheny slowing down. He hit the Irish fighter with a body punch combination. Doheny staggered but didn’t immediately fall. He grabbed his back in pain and then took a knee. He stood before referee Bence Kovacs of Hungary could administer a count, and suddenly, with a whimper, the fight was over.
“It's the muscle right above my hip. I can’t use my leg. I tried to push off when I come back out, and I said, Nah,” said Doheny after being helped to his dressing room after the fight, per video posted by his manager Sean Gibbons.
Naoya Inoue: April 2025 Fight in Las Vegas?
Team Inoue celebrates Tuesday's victory includes brother Takuma and his father/trainer Shingo Inoue. Photo: Naoki Fukuda for Top Rank
In the ring after Inoue’s victory, co-promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said, “I told him it was another great performance. I understand he'll be coming back here to Tokyo to defend his title again at the end of the year. And then we're taking him to the United States for a big celebration in Las Vegas.”
This likely means a matchup with Sam Goodman of Australia (19-0, 8 KOs), Inoue’s IBF mandatory challenger. Inoue could appear on a card in Las Vegas in April, setting up the super fight his fans crave against countryman Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs), who is an equally wicked body puncher as Inoue.
Takei Defeats Higa
WBO World Bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei of Yokohama, Japan survived a knockdown to successfully defend his title against former world champion Daigo Higa of Tokyo. Photo: Naoki Fukuda for Top Rank
In the co-main event, WBO World Bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei of Yokohama, Japan (10-0, 8 KOs) successfully defended his title against former world champion Daigo Higa of Tokyo (21-3-1, 19 KOs) in a unanimous decision. Scores were 114-113 twice and 115-112.
Takei survived a flash knockdown in the 11th round, coming back strong in the final round to save the victory. Takei and Higa delivered back-and-forth action, and the fight outcome was in the balance right to the final bell.
Barroso Falls to Hiraoka
Also on the undercard, 41-year-old veteran Ismael Barroso of Venezuela (25-5-2, 23 KOs) could not keep his improbable run alive. He suffered a ninth-round TKO loss to Andy Hiraoka of Yokohama, Japan (24-0, 19 KOs). Barroso was losing on all three cards 79-72, and suffered two knockdowns before referee Chris Young decided Barroso’s night was over.