On Tuesday, September 3, at the Ariake Arena in Koto City, Tokyo, Japan, undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) successfully defended his crown when he defeated TJ Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs) stopped. ) in the 7th round.
Inoue showed patience as he stuck to his game plan and systematically wore down the challenger. TJ Doheny was a game opponent, but unfortunately the accumulation of damage throughout the fight was too much for him to overcome.
The fight’s opening round was the typical feel-out process, as Inoue landed the jab and some solid rights to the body. For most of the fight, Inoue fought from the front foot and unleashed a balanced attack on the head and body of his opponent.
As the game wore on, Inoue’s bodywork gradually took its toll on Doheny. At the start of the 7th, Inoue landed a hard left to the body, forcing Doheny to limp away and take a knee. After seeing Doheny’s reaction, the referee stopped the match immediately.
Once the match ended, a revelation was made about Inoue stepping back into the ring in December to defend his undisputed crown. Once again, the bout will take place in Japan, and it will most likely be against WBO/IBF top contender Sam Goodman or WBA number one contender Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
After the December bout, Top Rank boss Bob Arum plans to have Inoue return to the United States to defend his crown in Las Vegas. If Inoue is successful, will a fight between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani take place later in 2025?
Undefeated Japanese boxer Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) is a three-division champion and the reigning WBC world bantamweight titleholder. Nakatani made a brief appearance in the squared circle in July 2024 when he faced Vincent Astrolabio.
With 38 seconds left in the 1st round, southpaw Nakatani landed a hard left to the body, sending Astrolabio to the canvas. With his body throbbing in pain, Vincent Astrolabio tried to get up, but unfortunately for him, he was counted out.
Fight fans are always looking for the next superfight, and a Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani clash fits the category. This potential fight will feature two highly skilled power punchers.
Currently, Inoue competes at 122 pounds, while Nakatani campaigns as a 118 pounder. Two-time four-division undisputed champion Naoya Inoue appears willing to stay at super-bantamweight for a significant amount of time.
Hopefully Junto Nakatani will move up from 118 to 122 in 2025. If that happens, it will heighten the anticipation for one of the biggest fights in the Japanese market.
The potential Inoue vs. Nakatani clash will be big in Japan, but it’s also a big fight worldwide. In a recent interview, boxing trainer Robert Garcia said he would fly to Japan to see the mega-fight.
Boxing fans and pundits are watching this situation, and they can see that this clash is on the horizon. Currently, Naoya Inoue is the biggest boxing star in Japan.
Junto Nakatani has yet to reach Inoue’s level of stardom, but he is gradually closing the gap. Continuing to win impressively will help Nakatani reduce the deficit. Still, Nakatani’s fastest route to his ultimate goal is to challenge Inoue in 2025 and attempt to dethrone the king.
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