After three fights in his junior featherweight campaign, Naoya Inoue has already swept the division. Now, "The Monster" faces a softer rival in the Irishman TJ Doheny, with whom he will defend his undisputed title for the second time in Japan in the main event of the Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny card.
Inoue is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having held titles in four weight classes and having been undisputed champion in two, becoming one of only three fighters in the four-belt era to be undisputed in two weight classes.
After three tough fights to open his junior featherweight campaign, Inoue now faces an objectively easier task in Doheny, who is fighting in Japan for the fourth straight time.
Where to watch Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny?
The Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny fight card will stream on ESPN+, with no additional purchases required to watch the fight.
TV Channel: ESPN+
Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny: Date and Start Time
The five-fight card headlined by Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny will begin on ESPN+ at 1:30 a.m. (CT) on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 3. Inoue vs. Doheny is expected to ringside at approximately 5:30 a.m. (CT).
Card Start: 1:30 a.m. (CT)
Inoue vs. TJ Doheny Fight Start: Approximately 5:30 a.m. (Central Time)
Where will the Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny fight take place?
Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny will take place at the Ariake Arena, just outside of Tokyo, Japan.
This will be Inoue's seventh consecutive fight in Japan and his fourth fight at the 12,000-seat Ariake Arena since 2022.
Naoya Inoue presents this impressive physical appearance with 1 week to go until his fight against TJ Doheny
Full card for the evening
The Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny preliminary card, which begins at 1:30 a.m. CT on ESPN+, features a title fight in the co-main event along with some compelling matchups.
- Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) vs. TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs); undisputed junior featherweight title
- Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) vs. Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs); WBO bantamweight title
- Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) vs. Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs)
- Jin Sasaki (17-1-1, 16 KOs) vs. Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8 KOs)
- Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3, 12 KOs) vs. Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1, 9 KOs)
Odds on the Naoya Inoue vs TJ Doheny fight
As is often the case before an Inoue fight, the reigning champion is a heavy favorite. Inoue has -4000 odds to win the fight, while Doheny has +1700 odds to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 4.5 rounds.
Inoue by KO/TKO: -1600
Inoue by decision: +750
Doheny by KO/TKO: +2200
Doheny by decision: +5000
Odds via DraftKings, as of August 29
Naoya Inoue fight record
Naoya Inoue has a record of 27-0, with 24 wins by knockout.
Inoue is a four-division world champion and became undisputed champion at bantamweight in December 2022 before moving up and becoming undisputed champion at junior featherweight last year. Inoue defeated unified champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales in back-to-back fights, his first two at that weight, to become undisputed champion at junior featherweight.
In his most recent defense in May, Inoue recovered from being knocked down to the canvas for the first time in his career to stop Luis Nery in the sixth round and retain his titles.
Naoya Inoue age, height, weight class
Naoya Inoue is 31 years old and stands at 5 feet 5 inches with a reach of 67.5 inches.
Inoue is now in his fifth weight class, having started his career at junior flyweight (108-pound limit) and steadily working his way up to junior featherweight (122-pound limit), where he is currently undisputed champion.
TJ Doheny fight record
TJ Doheny has a record of 26-4, with 20 wins by knockout.
While Doheny has been defeated four times, his losses were against quality opponents and he has never been knocked out. Doheny has fought his last three fights in Japan, winning each by TKO in four rounds.
TJ Doheny age, height, weight class
Doheny is 37 years old and stands 5-foot-5-and-a-half with a 68-inch reach.
Doheny has fought above junior featherweight in the past, but has generally spent his entire career in the division. He has weighed just under the 122-pound limit in each of his last four fights.
Naoya Inoue Stats
Considered perhaps the best boxer on the planet, Inoue has the numbers to back it up.
Inoue has the ninth-best plus/minus in all of boxing at +14.5, meaning he lands 14.5 more punches than he lands. One of the most accurate punchers in boxing, Inoue has a total punches landed percentage of 35.3%, the 10th best among active fighters.
The jab is one of Inoue's primary weapons and he uses it with great efficiency. Inoue lands the second-most jabs per round of any fighter at 8.4, while landing them at a 26.6% clip, the fourth-best in boxing.
How much money will the champion take home from today's fight?
According to a report from NY Fights, for the fight against Doheny, the Japanese boxer expects an approximate purse of $6.4 million dollars. On the Irish side, there are no figures to project, but it could be close to a million dollars.. On the Irish side, there are no figures to project, but it could be close to a million dollars.
