Irish warrior TJ Doheny is no stranger to Japan, having visited the country regularly. He has amassed five impressive wins there, which he believes will give him an edge when he faces the formidable “Monster” Naoya Inoue. The stakes are high, with all four super bantamweight belts on the line. Despite his previous victories, Doheny is considered a firm underdog against Inoue, who is currently at the peak of his terrifying powers. Inoue recently admitted that he still has room for improvement as a fighter, which is a scary thought for anyone standing in his way.
In his last fight against Luis Nery, Inoue faced a knockdown for the first time in his career. The left hook from Nery caused a moment of genuine shock among spectators and served as a reminder that even the most dominant fighters are not invincible. Despite this setback, Inoue displayed his resilience by overcoming the knockdown and ultimately securing a stoppage win. Some boxing experts, such as Todd DuBoef of Top Rank, believe that Doheny should adopt a similar aggressive approach from the opening bell to surprise Inoue. While Nery’s tactics ultimately led to his defeat, it showed that Inoue is not untouchable.
The question remains: should Doheny come out swinging or adopt a more cautious approach against Inoue? While an aggressive strategy may catch Inoue off guard, it also poses the risk of backfiring if not executed perfectly. Can Doheny outbox Inoue, or is it an impossible feat given Inoue’s unparalleled skills in the ring? The possibility of an all-Japanese mega-fight between Inoue and Junto Nakatani adds another layer of intrigue to the super bantamweight division. Nakatani, the WBC bantamweight champion, is also gaining recognition for his impressive performances in Japan.
DuBoef envisions a showdown between Inoue and Nakatani, describing them as “rock stars” in Japan. The potential clash between these two titans promises to be a spectacle for boxing fans worldwide. However, before we can speculate on the outcome of such a fight, we must first see how Inoue fares against Doheny and how Nakatani performs in his upcoming bout against Tasana Salapet. Both fighters are heavily favored to win, but as we know in the unpredictable world of boxing, anything can happen.
TJ Doheny faces the ultimate challenge in Naoya Inoue, a fighter at the top of his game. While Doheny’s past victories in Japan may give him confidence, he must come up with a solid game plan to tackle the “Monster.” Whether he chooses to come out swinging or rely on his boxing skills, one thing is certain – the super bantamweight division is in for an exciting ride with potential matchups like Inoue vs. Nakatani on the horizon.