The Monster Returns: Inoue Defends Undisputed Crown in Tokyo Showdown!

 

Inoue vs Doheny

Boxing fans, mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 3rd, as Naoya “The Monster” Inoue, the reigning king of the super bantamweight division, returns to his home turf at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Inoue will make the second defense of his undisputed super bantamweight title against the dangerous former world champion TJ Doheny in what promises to be an explosive showdown.

This must-see five-fight spectacle will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 2:30 a.m. ET, bringing fans a night of relentless action.

Main Event: Inoue vs. Doheny Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), the four-division world champion and a pound-for-pound legend, has made Ariake Arena his fortress. It was here that Inoue cemented his legacy by knocking out Paul Butler to become the undisputed bantamweight champion in December 2022. He followed that up with a stunning stoppage of then-unified super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton in July 2023, and a dominant performance against Marlon Tapales last December to claim the undisputed super bantamweight crown.

His opponent, TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), is no stranger to Japanese soil, boasting a perfect 4-0 record when fighting in the Land of the Rising Sun. Doheny's knockout of Bryl Bayogos on the Inoue-Luis Nery undercard at Tokyo Dome earlier this year shows he’s more than ready to give Inoue a serious challenge.

Co-Feature: Takei vs. Higa In the night’s co-feature, WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) makes his first title defense against the seasoned former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs). Takei, with a nearly perfect knockout record, faces his toughest test yet in the power-punching Higa, who’s determined to reclaim world champion status.

Undercard Action:

• Ismael Barroso vs. Andy Hiraoka
  Junior Welterweight, 12 Rounds
  Veteran power-puncher Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) clashes with undefeated Japanese phenom Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs). Barroso returns fresh off a first-round knockout of Ohara Davies, while Hiraoka aims to make a statement in his 2024 debut.

• Jin Sasaki vs. Qamil Balla
  Welterweight, 12 Rounds
  Jin Sasaki (17-1-1, 16 KOs), Japan’s rising star and knockout artist, takes on Australia’s Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8 KOs) in a high-stakes bout. Sasaki, ranked No. 2 by the WBO, has dispatched his last five opponents by knockout, while Balla looks to extend his four-fight win streak.

• Toshiki Shimomachi vs. Ryuya Tsugawa
  Japanese Super Bantamweight Title, 10 Rounds
  Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3, 12 KOs), unbeaten in his last 19 fights, defends his Japanese Super Bantamweight title against Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1, 9 KOs). Tsugawa, a knockout artist on a nine-fight win streak, will look to dethrone the champion in a thrilling clash.

Don’t miss this electrifying night of boxing, as Naoya “The Monster” Inoue looks to continue his reign of terror in the super bantamweight division, live on ESPN+!