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Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny – Substantial Fight Preview and Predictions

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Inoue knocked out Nery in May Photo Credit: Naoki Fukuda

Naoya Inoue puts his undisputed super bantamweight titles on the line against TJ Doheny in Japan on Tuesday. Photo Source: Top Rank
Naoya Inoue puts his undisputed super bantamweight titles on the line against TJ Doheny in Japan on Tuesday. Photo Source: Top Rank

A can’t-miss star at any weight class, Naoya Inoue will be back in action on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan, where he will defend his undisputed super bantamweight title against veteran TJ Doheny at the Ariake Arena.

Top Rank promotes Inoue vs. Doheny, and the show can be watched on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US.

Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) is an elite-level fighter with a double-handed knockout punch. He currently commands the 122-pound division after previously being the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world, winning a dominant 11th-round knockout of Paul Butler to capture the WBO belt in December 2022.

“The Monster” also reigned as lightweight flyweight and super flyweight world champion.

The 31-year-old moved up to super bantamweight last July and arrived in the division in style, dispatching Stephen Fulton before taking his WBC and WBO world titles in an eighth-round knockout win before knocking out WBA and IBF king Marlon Tapales in ten rounds on Boxing Day 2023.

Inoue knocked out Nery in May Photo: Naoki Fukuda
Inoue knocked out Nery in May Photo: Naoki Fukuda

In May, Inoue defended his undisputed title for the first time in his career, defeating Luis Nery in six rounds at the Toyko Dome.

Now he will face the experienced Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), who is enjoying a real summer in his career.

The Irishman destroyed any chance of winning the IBF super bantamweight title in 2018 when he traveled to Japan to dethrone Ryosuke Iwasa, but after one defense he lost by majority decision to Daniel Roman, having been knocked out twice.

Following back-to-back losses to Ionut Baluta (UD8), Michael Conlan (UD12) and Sam Goodman (UD10), Doheny’s career seemed to be over, but the 37-year-old has revived in Japan, picking up three wins in rematches against favored contenders.

“The Power” last competed in May on the same card as Inoue, stopping Bryl Bayogos (7-0-1) in four rounds.

Doheny has won his last three fights by knockout. Photo: Naoki Fukuda
Doheny has won his last three fights by knockout. Photo: Naoki Fukuda
Takei defends world title

The preliminary card will feature more world title fights as Yoshiki Takei will defend his WBO bantamweight title for the first time against Daigo Higa.

Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) won the belt in May with a mature performance and a convincing win over Jason Moloney, making it his first time going the distance of 12 rounds.

Takei won the belt from Moloney in May. Photo: Naoki Fukuda
Takei won the belt from Moloney in May. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs) is a former WBC flyweight champion and has four wins since April 2021, when he lost on points to Ryosuke Nishida.

Barroso fights Hiraoka

Former lightweight world champion Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) breathed fresh life into his career by stopping Ohara Davies in one round in Las Vegas in January, but will now face undefeated Japanese knockout champion Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round fight.

Remaining subcard

Jin Sasaki (17-1-1, 16 KOs) puts his WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental & Pacific Federation welterweight titles on the line against Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8 KOs) and should emerge victorious on the points cards.

Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3, 12 KOs) can defend his Japanese super bantamweight title by defeating Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1, 9 KOs).

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UK Boxing

Daniel Dubois Shares Firm Stance On Rematch With Anthony Joshua After Brutal Knockout

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Daniel Dubois has expressed interest in a rematch with either Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk, stating that he would choose the opponent who “pays him the most.”

On Saturday night at Wembley Stadium, Dubois successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title against British rival Joshua, defeating the two-time former world champion four times.

Joshua took to social media on Monday to emphasize that his boxing adventure is not over yet, and that in the future he is considering the possibility of a rematch with Dubois and a possible giant fight with Tyson Fury.

Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren stated that while his fighter’s contract does not specifically call for an immediate rematch with Joshua, they could meet again if they reach an agreement.

In the meantime, Usyk is scheduled to rematch Fury on December 21 for the WBA, WBO and WBC titles.

Dubois was defeated by Usyk in August 2023, but managed to do so by knocking the Ukrainian down in the fifth round – a blow that was deemed a low blow, giving the champion extra time to recover.

The 27-year-old Londoner stressed that no matter which player he faces, the financial conditions must be favourable to him.

“I would like a rematch, but really, the one that pays me the most,” Dubois said. talkSPORTWhen asked about the possibility of meeting Joshua again, he replied: “Yeah, if it happens in the future, then yes. If it happens next time, then yes. I want to try.

“I want to do even better next time. I know where I need to improve, so as a champion and as a fighter, I just want to prove people wrong every time, and that’s what we did.

“I think I would have been much better than that (last fight). It was a great spectacle, a Rocky-style fight, but next time I believe I’ll be more clinical, more pointed, everything will be better.”

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UK Boxing

Anthony Joshua says conditions must be met for Tyson Fury fight to go ahead as Eddie Hearn has been sidelined

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But a mega-money clash with Fury now seems further away than ever. The pair have publicly agreed to fight twice before, but negotiations have fallen through, frustrating British fans and accusing both icons of greed.

If Joshua were to beat Dubois and Fury were to win his world title rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December, it was widely believed the pair would finally meet in a unification fight in 2025. However, Frank Warren, the Gypsy King’s promoter, has now given the 2012 Olympic gold medalist hope that the fight could still happen.

Pressed on whether he thinks the Joshua vs. Fury fight is dead, he said: “I don’t know. “I think people might still want it, if he (Joshua) comes back and wins, who knows.

“Fury has to face Usyk in a rematch on December 21 first, but I hope he can do it. This heavyweight division is alive, losers fight losers and winners fight winners.”

The question remains whether ‘AJ’ will have a chance to pick up that potentially pivotal victory over Dubois. In an apparent response to Hearn’s claim, Warren, 72, also clarified the situation surrounding the next defense of his IBF world title, which he also manages through Queensberry Promotions.

“He doesn’t have a rematch in his contract. But there is one in AJ’s contract,” he said. “I’m fine with a rematch if they want to do it and the terms are right. But it’s too early. He has to savor the moment, he’s shown what he’s all about, fighting four world-class guys this year.”

For his part, Dubois has stated that he would love to face Joshua a second time, but is also open to fighting the winner of Fury vs. Usyk. However, the 27-year-old admitted that financial incentives will play a role in his final decision.

“I’d like a rematch, but really, any one of them — the one that pays me the most,” he said, also appearing on . “If there’s a rematch next time, then yes. I want to try. I want to do even better next time.”

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UK Boxing

Anthony Joshua took Mike Tyson’s advice after being knocked out by Daniel Dubois

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Anthony Joshua has reflected on his recent defeat to Daniel Dubois, but the wise words Mike Tyson shared with Errol Spence Jr. could be just as relevant for the British heavyweight.

Joshua entered the ring at Wembley to face Dubois on the back of a winning streak and seemingly having shaken off his defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

Despite being tipped to win, Dubois dominated the fight, knocking Joshua down in the first and third rounds before securing the win in the fifth.

At 34, Spence is at a similar point in his career, having not fought since his inaugural loss to Terence Crawford in 2023.

Tyson, a former heavyweight champion, offered some sage advice during an appearance on “It Is What It Is,” reminding fighters that a single defeat doesn’t mean it’s over.

“The sky is the limit,” Tyson noted. “It means nothing, a loss. He [Spence] can still make a lot of money.

“That’s what today’s warriors do [do]They lose the fight, they get discouraged, [think] Maybe I won’t do it again. That’s life – don’t get discouraged.

“In life you lose… anything. You lose your job, you lose your mother, you lose your teeth, you lose your hair, and we have to go on living, we have to go on sailing.”

Joshua’s current record is 28-4, after failing to take the IBF heavyweight title from Dubois.

Despite the setback, promoter Eddie Hearn remains hopeful about Joshua’s future, expecting him to sign a rematch clause with the 27-year-old Dubois.

AJ has already made it clear that he has no plans to retire and will apparently heed the advice of American icon Tyson.

“I’m sure he’ll exercise that rematch clause. I think that’s a given,” Hearn noted after the Wembley fight, admitting that Joshua needs to rest before taking on such a risky fight again.

“This guy [Dubois] He’s still gaining confidence, but he’s going to believe he can hurt Dubois. He’s going to believe he can beat him. But full credit to Daniel Dubois, he deserves all the credit tonight, that was a great performance from Daniel.”

Frank Warren, Dubois’ promoter, has hinted at the possibility of a future fight between Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk, after Usyk first faces Tyson Fury.

And on Saturday he said: “Everybody here saw the champion perform tonight. Two great fighters in the ring and the champion perform. And I think he did everything that was asked of him.

“He showed his courage, he showed his skills, his resilience. AJ caught him with a shot there and I was worried about that. But he caught him with a counter and that’s what happened. What a great, great fight by both guys.”

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