Naoya Inoue, one of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers, is still on top.
The Japanese superstar defeated TJ Doheny via TKO at the 0:16 mark of the seventh round to retain the undisputed junior featherweight championship Tuesday in Tokyo.
The ending of the fight was somewhat anticlimactic. Doheny appeared to suffer an injury after Inoue landed a combination to the body, and the challenger was unable to continue.
Doheny said afterward there was an issue with a muscle above his hip and his leg went dead, according to boxing reporter Dan Rafael.
Regardless of the odd finish, an Inoue victory seemed inevitable by Round 7. He found his rhythm in a dominant Round 6, with body shots taking a toll on Doheny.
Inoue had an unusually slow and measured start in the opening five rounds, though he still commanded most of the action. Doheny got Inoue’s attention with a few punches, but Inoue stayed busier and put pressure on his opponent.
Inoue’s co-promoter, Bob Arum, said after the fight that Inoue will defend his 122-pound titles at the end of 2024 and then pursue a fight in the United States next year. “The Monster” hasn’t fought stateside since June 2021.
Inoue, 31, now holds a 28-0 record with 25 knockouts. He captured the undisputed junior featherweight championship last December and made his first defense in May, scoring a sixth-round knockout of Luis Nery.
Doheny, a 37-year-old from Ireland who lives in Australia, was riding a three-fight winning streak coming in. He suffered his first knockout and is now 26-5 as a pro. Doheny held the IBF junior featherweight title from 2018-19.
