Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Latest fight updates and results as injury hands champion victory in Tokyo
Re-live the action after Naoya Inoue retained the undisputed super-bantamweight belts against TJ Doheny
Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super-bantamweight titles against TJ Doheny on Tuesday, as the Irishman suffered an injury in Tokyo.
Inoue had started patiently but began to shift through the gears when Doheny clutched at his hip or lower back in round seven, leading the fight to be waved off.
The southpaw, 37, let out a “F***!” in the Ariake Arena, before limping over to apologise to Inoue, 31.
The result kept Inoue, arguably the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, unbeaten. It also ensured that the Japanese superstar retained his belts at super-bantamweight, following his world-title reigns in three other divisions.
Re-live updates and results from Inoue vs Doheny and the undercard, below.
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Yoshiki Takei vs Daigo Higa
Round four
A fun exchange against the ropes, as Takei leans back and opts for counters, while Higa pours on offence!
The crowd appreciated that moment, but the boxers move away from the ropes now.
Takei lands a right hand and Higa drops down to a knee, but he insists it was a slip – and the referee seems to agree.
Stiff jab by Higa, snapping back the head of Takei. An overhand left gets through for Higa now, too.
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Yoshiki Takei vs Daigo Higa
Round three
Higa tends to cover up as Takei lets his hands go, before throwing wide left hooks to try to catch out the champion.
OH! Speaking of getting caught out! Higa walks onto a lead right uppercut, what a shot.
But the challenger gets through with an overhand left and a right cross – nice work.
Clean jab by Higa. Takei with another uppercut, this time a left hand.
Stern right hook by Takei, and Higa clearly felt that one.
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Yoshiki Takei vs Daigo Higa
Round two
Higa parries more jabs, then Takei wings a left hook to the body and a right hook to the head!
But it’s an open exchange, with loose defence from both men, and Takei gets slightly wobbled! It appeared to be a left hook that did it...
The pace slows slightly. Takei attempts to get his jab going again. Higa is conserving energy, perhaps.
Lovely right hand up top by Takei, after a left hand to the body. He burrows a left uppercut into the mid-section of Higa now, as Higa lunges forward and smothers the champion.
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Yoshiki Takei vs Daigo Higa
Round one
So, this is Takei’s first defence of the WBO bantamweight belt. The southpaw and Higa, his orthodox opponent, are content to feint for the majority of the first minute.
They circle in the middle of the ring, before Higa just about blocks a jab. More jabs from Takei, the taller boxer who is crouching slightly as usual.
He tries a lead right hook. More jabs, then another hook attempt as Higa rushes in. In that burst, Higa lands a right hook and a left!
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Yoshiki Takei vs Daigo Higa
Next up, it’s an all-Japanese clash: the unbeaten Yoshiki Takei defends the WBO bantamweight title against Daigo Higa.
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Ismael Barroso vs Andy Hiraoka
Down goes Barroso in round nine! It’s his second knockdown of the fight, and it comes after a beautiful combination from Hiraoka! Southpaw cross, right uppercut – great work.
Barroso falls to his knees in the corner, and although he’s soon back up, it’s only 20 seconds or so before he falls to his knees again...
Once more he’s back up, very late in the round, but Barroso’s corner calls it! It’s all over!
With Barroso surely trailing by some way on the scorecards, that’s a smart decision from his team.
Andy Hiraoka def. Ismael Barroso via ninth-round TKO (2:58). He moves to 24-0 (19 KOs).
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: ‘Monster’s last fight, revisited
Here is a look back at Inoue’s last fight, in May, when he recovered from a shock knockdown to stop Luis Nery:
Naoya Inoue is vulnerable after all – but more dangerous than ever
In round one, the pound-for-pound star was dramatically dropped for the first time in his career, but he fought back to brutally stop Nery and stay undisputed
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Japanese star, pound-for-pound No 1?
As Steve mentioned in the last post, Inoue may be the best boxer in the world, but where does he rank on the Indy Sport pound-for-pound list?
Spoiler alert, you may have to scroll down some way...
Full rankings here:
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE
After Sasaki and Shimomachi’s victories, next up is the super-lightweight clash between Ismael Barroso and Andy Hiraoka.
Inoue vs Doheny LIVE: Fight card
Naoya Inoue (C) vs TJ Doheny (WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF super-bantamweight titles)
Yoshiki Takei (C) vs Daigo Higa (WBO bantamweight title)
Ismael Barroso vs Andy Hiraoka (super-lightweight)
Jin Sasaki def. Qamil Balla via seventh-round TKO
Toshiki Shimomachi def. Ryuya Tsugawa via unanimous decision
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