Set Your Clocks For Naoya Inoue

Inoue has powered his way to the top of pound-for-pound lists throughout the boxing world. The 31-year-old has amassed a 27-0 record with 24 knockouts. Inoue Is on a streak with eight straight knockouts. The last opponent to go the distance with Inoue was the legendary Nonito Donaire in November 2019. Most recently, Inoue got off the canvas to stop Luis Nery in the sixth round in May. The performance proved Inoue was capable of coming back from adversity against an elite opponent.

The fight with Doheny is Inoue’s newest challenge, and it could be the final gateway before the Japanese star heads to the west. Inoue fought eight times at bantamweight, and the scrap with Doheny will be his fourth at 122 pounds.

How many more fights will he have at the weight class, and how much higher in weight can he dominate at?

The slugging challenger

Doheny is on a three-fight win streak. That run secured the opportunity to challenge Inoue’s undisputed crown.

We talk a lot about Inoue’s power, but Doheny is a powerful puncher, too. He has scored a KO in 20 of his 26 career victories, and he’s never been stopped. All three of Doheny’s wins on his current streak have come by stoppage, including his fourth-round finish of the highly inexperienced Bryl Bayogos in May at the Tokyo Dome on the undercard of Inoue-Sery.

Doheny is set for this spot in the short term, but can he prove to be up to the challenge? If he can then life will never be the same for him after beating the most dominate fighter in boxing at the movement.