TJ Doheny leaving Australia – hopes to win World title by end of 2016
It’s all change for TJ Doheny – apart from the fact that he is still knocking on the door of a World title shot.
‘The Power’ is set to leave Australia – where he established himself as a World ranked fighter – and relocate to Boston.
His training base isn’t the only thing the Portlaoise native is looking to change. Doheny, who is ranked in the super bantamweight Top 15 with the WBA (#8) and IBF (#14) is ready to move down a weight as he attempts to secure a World title shot. Thankfully the Laois man also finds himself World ranked at 118lbs with the WBO (#15).
The former Irish National Senior finalist is linking up with Hector Bermudez at Peter Welch’s gym in Boston and believes the sparring alone will kick him on.
“I will be moving to Boston to train, I think it’s best for me at this stage in my career. I will be linking up with Hector Bermudez at Peter Welch’s gym in South Boston,” he told Irish-boxing.com.
“I trained there for a few weeks with him in March and I loved it, I felt right at home. It has a real world class environment with World champions and top prospects in the gym. It’s exactly where I need to be as I am pushing on to the next level now,” he added before discussing the sparring on offer at the gym.
“There will be no shortage of sparring either with the likes of Jonathan Guzman, Ryan Kielzcewski and Javier Fortuna floating around.”
“One thing I have really struggled with in Australia is the lack of regular sparring with guys my own weight and it is one of the main reasons I’m making the move to America. I could be moving down to bantamweight too as I made super bantamweight too easily last time. I had almost 2lbs to spare.”
Doheny believes relocating to America, where he will be promoted by Murphy’s Boxing, will help his chances of moving into World contention and he is adamant he will secure a shot before the year is out.
“I am sizing up my options at the moment but either way I can assure you this, I will be challenging for a World title or at the very least a final eliminator in the coming months.”
“After a frustrating few months while I’ve been waiting on my US visa to be approved, I have had three different fight dates pushed back I’m just delighted to be getting back to business and doing what I do best.”
The 29 year old fights for the second time on a Murphy’s card on September 17th in New Hampshire alongside Spike O’Sullivan and Steve Collins. Doheny claims he is ready to impress and is keen to win some Irish-American fans and generate some noise back home at the same time.
“I’m not too sure who I’m being lined up to fight on September 17th but I’m ready to go,” he continued before discussing further the benefits of fighting Stateside.
“Being in Australia I have been somewhat off the radar for Irish boxing fans and fighting out of Boston I will be a lot closer to home, it’s going to get me the exposure I deserve and I will get to show people what I’m all about.”
“I would also like to point out that Tony Del Vecchio is still involved in my career and is working tirelessly alongside my manager Mike Altamura and Murphy’s Boxing to help guide me in the right direction.”
