Homecoming planned for world champion TJ Doheny

TJ Doheny [20(14)-0] will be the first world champion since Joe Louis in 1960 to make his way up Main Street in Portlaoise.

The town have planned a well-deserved homecoming for the Sydney-based boxer and will celebrate his world title success in style this coming Friday [September 21st].

The IBF super bantamweight world champion will travel up Main Street in Portlaoise on Friday evening, starting at the church and working his way to the top square, before then heading to County Hall for a Civic Reception.

The occasion will see Portlaoise celebrate the southpaw’s brilliant win last month over Japanese boxer Ryosuke Iwasa in the famous Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Doheny became Ireland’s third reigning world champion and joined Wayne McCullough as only the second man from Ireland or Britain to win a world title in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The 31-year-old scored a unanimous decision win over the champ on his home turf and has since enjoyed a holiday away with family in Bali before returning to Sydney from where he will come home to Ireland and a massive reception.

The event was confirmed at Monday’s special meeting of Laois County Council, having been proposed by Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald and seconded by Cllr Noel Tuohy.

Commenting, Fitzgerald said that “we want to see a massive crowd. It’s not every day we get an opportunity to welcome a world champion.”

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley added that “he is not just a Portlaoise man, but a Knockmay man, and the whole of Knockmay is extremely proud.”

The event should garner wide media interest and allay some of the complaints of Irish fight fans regarding  the lack of coverage the amazing achievement received.

However, considering the world champ has now officially signed with MTK Global, their Irish media boycott will severely limit the amount of press and interviews the returning hero can do.