TOKYO — Naoya Inoue remains to be the one and solely junior featherweight king. “The Monster” improved to 23-0 in world title fights, stopping former world champion TJ Doheny within the seventh spherical Tuesday at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo to retain his undisputed crown.
Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs), a four-division world champion and pound-for-pound sensation, earned his ninth consecutive stoppage. He grew to become the primary man to cease Eire’s Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs).
The opening rounds had been tactical, as Inoue swept rounds one and two on the judges’ scorecards with an informed jab. Doheny, who gained the IBF junior featherweight world title on Japanese soil in 2018, had pockets of success in rounds three and 4, touchdown overhand lefts and utilizing lateral motion to maintain Inoue at bay. Inoue ramped up the assault in spherical six, connecting with a number of physique pictures that had Doheny holding his facet on the finish of the spherical.
Inoue charged from his nook to start the seventh, delivering a physique punch mixture that left Doheny holding his again in ache. After taking a knee, he walked to his nook gingerly. The struggle was over. And for yet one more night, The Monster reigned supreme.
Prime Rank Chairman Bob Arum mentioned, “I informed him it was one other nice efficiency. I perceive he’ll be coming again right here to Tokyo to defend his title once more on the finish of the yr. After which we’re taking him to the USA for a giant celebration in Las Vegas.”
Within the co-feature, Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) made the primary protection of his WBO bantamweight world title, edging former world champion Daigo Higa (21-3-1, 19 KOs) through unanimous choice by scores of 114-113 2x and 115-112. After struggling a knockdown within the eleventh, Takei dominated spherical 12 to safe the victory.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Govt Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and likewise a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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