Naoya Inoue, the pound-for-pound star and unified super-bantamweight champion, is set to face Irish fighter TJ Doheny in his next bout. Despite his impressive record of 26-4(20) and never being stopped, Doheny is relatively unknown to many fans. The former IBF super-bantamweight champion has won his last three fights by stoppage, all of which took place in Japan, where he will face Inoue on September 3rd.
The announcement of the fight between Inoue and Doheny has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from many in the boxing world. Eddie Hearn, in particular, has been vocal about his disapproval of the matchup, calling it “a horrific mismatch.” Hearn believes that Inoue should be facing his WBA mandatory, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, instead of Doheny. He expressed disappointment for boxing and questioned Team Inoue’s decision-making in selecting this fight.
Hearn’s comments have raised the question of whether he is being too harsh or if his criticism is justified. While Doheny may not appreciate being labeled as a mismatch for Inoue, the reality is that many expect Inoue to dominate the fight. Inoue’s reputation as a top pound-for-pound fighter adds weight to Hearn’s argument that he should be facing tougher opponents. The decision to bypass Akhmadaliev, the mandatory challenger, has left many scratching their heads.
Looking Towards the Future
As the fight date approaches, the anticipation grows to see how Inoue will perform against Doheny. If Inoue secures a victory over Doheny and then faces and defeats Akhmadaliev, it may silence the critics and prove that he is truly deserving of his status. However, until then, the controversy surrounding his choice of opponents will continue to linger. Can Doheny defy the odds and give Inoue a real challenge on September 3rd? Only time will tell.