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Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) is set to defend his title against TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) on Tuesday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Inoue has been on an extraordinary run, becoming an undisputed champion in both the bantamweight and junior featherweight divisions in consecutive years, 2022 and 2023. His place in the boxing Hall of Fame seems secure, yet his upcoming fight against Doheny may offer more intrigue than most anticipate. Here are three key subplots that make this bout more interesting than it might appear at first glance:
1. Age and its impact
In the lighter-weight divisions, fighters often hit their peak early and age quicker than their heavier counterparts. Flyweight legend Roman Gonzalez, for instance, suffered his first career loss at age 29, to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, while junior flyweight Michael Carbajal lost to Humberto Gonzalez at age 26. Inoue, now 31, is at an age where this could become a factor.
In his most recent fight, Inoue was knocked down by Luis Nery before recovering to stop Nery in the sixth round. The question now is whether that knockdown was a one-off or a sign of declining reflexes that could impact future performances. Doheny, 37, is the older fighter, but Inoue’s age and his entrance into his 30s – a critical phase for lower-weight fighters – have gone largely unnoticed. This fight could reveal whether Inoue will continue to defy the aging curve or if this will become a narrative to monitor.
2. Doheny’s resurgence
Doheny, a former junior featherweight titleholder, is best remembered for losing his belt via majority decision to Daniel Roman in an entertaining fight in 2019. Recent losses to Michael Conlan and Sam Goodman might suggest an easy night for Inoue, but Doheny’s recent form tells a different story.
In his past three fights, Doheny has scored three consecutive knockouts, including victories over Kazuki Nakajima, Japhethlee Llamido and Bryl Bayogos. Notably, Llamido, who was undefeated and an Inoue sparring partner, was knocked out by Doheny in the first round. While the ceiling of these opponents can be questioned, Doheny’s recent performances indicate he is in dangerous form, making him a risky opponent for Inoue. Doheny has already secured four of his most significant career wins in Japan, where he seems to thrive and should enter this bout as a confident underdog.
3. The “trap fight” factor
Inoue’s career is marked by a series of dominant performances, including first-round knockouts of Jamie McDonnell and Juan Carlos Payano, and a second-round stoppage of Emmanuel Rodriguez. His 2019 bout with Nonito Donaire was a tough fight, but Inoue decisively stopped Donaire in their 2021 rematch. And last year, in his entrance to the junior featherweight division, Inoue outclassed Stephen Fulton.
Despite Inoue’s dominance, his fight with Doheny presents a classic “trap fight” scenario. Doheny, a seasoned veteran with a history of upsets, poses a credible threat – especially if Inoue overlooks him. While Inoue’s focus and preparation are typically impeccable, this type of fight, with low rewards and high risks, can be just as dangerous as a unification bout against a fellow titleholder. For Inoue, the stakes are high, with little to gain and much to lose, making this a fight fraught with peril.
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.