The official weights have been confirmed for the highly anticipated super bantamweight clash happening at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Unified 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue weighed in at 122 pounds, marking the heaviest weight of his career. His opponent, Australian-based Irishman TJ Doheny, was slightly lighter at 121.5 pounds.
A sell-out crowd is expected to be in attendance tomorrow, eagerly anticipating watching their hero, Naoya Inoue, known as “The Monster,” take on the underdog Doheny. Inoue, with a flawless record of 27-0 with 24 knockouts, is considered by many as the reigning pound-for-pound king in boxing. Despite his impressive record, Inoue did face a knockdown in his last fight against Luis Nery in May, which has given Doheny some added confidence going into the fight.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics of Inoue have expressed disappointment in the choice of opponent for tomorrow’s bout. Some argue that the 31-year-old Hall of Famer should be facing a more elite and challenging opponent. However, the question remains, who is truly capable of testing Inoue at this stage of his career? Many fans are eager to see Inoue move up to the featherweight division, a move that the champion himself has hinted at in the future.
Despite the doubts from critics, Inoue is expected to showcase his skills and dominate Doheny in the ring. With his impressive ability to analyze his opponents and adjust his strategy during a fight, it is likely that Inoue will finish the bout within the first five rounds. The possibility of Doheny pulling off a major upset and defeating Inoue is slim, but if it were to happen, it would certainly go down as one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.
In addition to the main event, the undercard features exciting matchups including Yoshiko Takei defending his WBO bantamweight title against Daigo Higa. Both fighters made weight just under the 118-pound limit, promising a fast-paced and intense battle. Ismael Barroso will also defend his WBA interim title at 140 pounds against Andy Hiraoka, with both fighters successfully hitting the 140-pound mark. The undercard fights are shaping up to deliver some thrilling knockouts and action-packed entertainment for the fans in Tokyo.