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- What: WBC, WBO, IBF, WBA and The Ring world junior featherweight title
- Who: Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny
- Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024
- Time: 4:00 a.m. ET
- Location: Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Four-weight world champion Naoya Inoue puts his undisputed junior featherweight title on the line against TJ Doheny on September 3 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Inoue won the undisputed 122-pound title in December 2023 with a 10th-round TKO victory over Marlon Tapales. He then defended the belt in May with a sixth-round knockout of Luis Nery. Doheny is on a three-fight winning streak, with each of those victories coming by knockout ahead of the upcoming bout, which streams on ESPN+. Here is some background on the fighters before we discuss, in detail, the betting breakdown of the Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny matchup.
Naoya Inoue (27-0 with 24 knockouts) is the top-ranked fighter at junior featherweight. In addition to that ranking, the 31-year-old is the No. 2 rated fighter in The Ring pound-for-pound listings. Inoue is the first fighter to hold the undisputed title in the four-belt era at junior featherweight. He was also the first fighter to win the undisputed bantamweight championship. He and Terence Crawford are the only fighters to hold undisputed titles in two weight divisions.
TJ Doheny (26-4 with 20 KOs) is the No. 7 rated 122-pound fighter according to The Ring. The 37-year-old held the IBF junior bantamweight title from August 2018 through April 2019. He has fought well over the past year, scoring three knockouts while competing in Japan.
Before we look at the junior featherweight matchup between Naoya Inoue and TJ Doheny, check out our guide to betting on boxing and where you can find the best boxing picks.
Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |  |
| Naoya Inoue | -5000 | -10000 | -5000 | -7692 |
| TJ Doheny | +1600 | +1700 | +1200 | +980 |
Naoya Inoue betting breakdown
Nicknamed “The Monster,” Naoya Inoue has won titles in four weight divisions during his pro career, which began in 2012: junior flyweight, junior bantamweight, bantamweight, and now junior featherweight. His past 22 fights have all been for titles. His first fight at 122 pounds came against Stephen Fulton in July 2023. He won that scrap by KO. In his second bout at that weight, he became the undisputed junior featherweight champion after stopping Marlon Tapales in the 10th round of their 12-round battle.
Hailing from Japan, Inoue has a fast jab to the head and body. He uses that lead hand to set up his power punches, including his devastating feint to overhand and a nasty lead-hand hook. Another thing Inoue is very good at is forcing his opponent to open themselves to crushing liver shots. Inoue has seven straight knockout wins.
While he is mainly known for his power, Inoue is more than that. He can control the location and range of the fight. He has good boxing IQ. Finally, the champ pressures at the right time and is capable of setting traps for his opponents. In short, he deserves his high pound-for-pound ranking.
TJ Doheny betting breakdown
TJ Doheny’s career seemed like it was on the rocks not long ago. Starting his career with a 21-0 record, Doheny went 2-4 between April 2019 and March 2023, losing each of those fights by decision. Three of those setbacks came in title fights. Then, in June 2023, Doheny began an unlikely comeback for a fighter well into his 30s, scoring three straight early knockouts, all in the fourth round or earlier, and setting himself up for a fight against one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world in Inoue.
Doheny is no stranger to fighting in Japan, where he is 4-0. He entered as the underdog in three of those fights and left with wins.
Doheny is a tough fighter who has been competitive in his losses. He says that being busy over the last year has helped him focus and earn this upcoming fight, “I’m in my mid-thirties, and I needed some motivation to keep in the gym. It’s hard when you’re sitting out on a hiatus with nothing to motivate you to train. I’m also a dad of four kids, so I’m a busy man. I’ve got other priorities and life commitments, so I’m not really focused if I don’t have a fight date. So I think the resurgence has come just from fight after fight on the bounce over the last 12 to 18 months.”
Best bets for Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny
TJ Doheny has never been knocked out, while Naoya Inoue has ended his past eight fights early. One of those streaks will end in September. The betting pick is for Naoya Inoue to score a knockout win over TJ Doheny in the second half of their title fight.
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