The next chapter in the career of undefeated four-division world champion Naoya Inoue, a man who also holds the distinction of becoming an undisputed world champion in both the 118lb. Bantamweight and 122lb. Jr. Featherweight divisions was one that some felt was a formality. Despite suffering a scare in his last title defense of the Undisputed Jr. Featherweight crown against former world champion Luis Nery, where he was knocked down for the first time in his career, some thought his opponent in former IBF Jr. Featherweight world champion TJ Doheny would be overmatched due to the often devastating punching power that Inoue has.
What fans including those who were in attendance at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on September 3rd were treated to, however, was a surprisingly tactical battle where the challenger more than held his own, despite the bleak odds that he faced. Doheny used frequent faints to disrupt Inoue’s ability to find a rhythm and put forth a consistent attack. This not only kept the pace of the combat at a measured tactical pace where frankly it seemed in spots to favor the challenger. Doheny was also very tactical in how he picked his spots to throw his punches, mixing from the body to the head and only throwing short combinations. While this was an effective strategy for several rounds, Inoue’s punches were harder and more effective when he did land them.
Although Doheny succeeded in keeping the fight at a pace that seemed to nullify the champion’s usual consistent pressure and offensive attack where it was more competitive, after four rounds, Inoue was able to let his hands go more frequently, landing hooks to the body and the head of the challenger. It was one left hook to the body in the latter seconds of the fifth round that seemed to have Doheny hurt. As round six began, Inoue threw a combination that had Doheny on the ropes attempting to use his lateral movement to defend and evade the incoming punches from the champion. It seemed as Doheny was attempting this as he got hit with a body shot, he appeared to turn awkwardly and indicated an injury before limping back to his corner, clearly compromised in some way. The fight was over just sixteen seconds into round six.
While this fight did not offer the conclusive outcome that most have come to expect whenever Naoya Inoue fights, there is something to be said about how competitive the fight seemed to be before the stoppage and that this followed a bout where Inoue was knocked down for the first time in his career and faced a determined effort from Luis Nery. In that, it was the first time in Inoue’s career that the fighter known to his fans as “The Monster” appeared to show that like the rest of us, he is human. Ultimately, the champion did what he had to do here in this fight and retained his title via stoppage due to an apparent injury to a fighter in TJ Doheny, who had never been stopped previously in his career. As to what extent of the injury and exactly what that injury was is unknown as of this writing, but in defeat, Doheny was not only able to give a good account of himself, but was also able to ask a question that seems to follow what happened to Inoue in his last bout against Nery. After winning world championships in four different divisions in dominant fashion and becoming an undisputed world champion in two of those divisions, has Naoya Inoue hit his ceiling as far as how high he can go at 122lbs. where he will be able to compete at or near his best?
It goes without saying that no matter how dominant a fighter is regardless of weight class that as time goes on the accumulation of fights as well as the physical toll one endures during training does have an affect and opposition does tend to be able to withstand punches better as a fighter moves up in weight than was the case in lower divisions for the reason that in a lot of cases, those fighters are natural at the given weight where the fight is taking place. Although this does not necessarily mean that Naoya Inoue is necessarily at a point where he might be declining as far as his skills or punching power is concerned, his last two outings have shown that he is indeed human and may likely have a harder time with the competition as a Jr. Featherweight or even if he chooses down the line to test the waters in the 126lb. Featherweight division in an attempt to become one of the rare fighters to have won world championships in five different divisions.
Regardless of what may be ahead for Inoue down the road, clearly we are witnessing a future Hall of Famer that is one of the rare fighters where the term “Generational Talent” is more than appropriate to describe. This observer is looking forward to whatever might be next.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
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