TJ Doheny receives World Title confirmation
TJ Doheny [18(13)-0] now knows who stands between him and super bantamweight World title success and has received confirmation that he will fight for the belt this Summer
The Muprhys Boxing puncher had secured a shot at the IBF title and mandatory status with victory over Mike Tawatch just five days short of Christmas last.
However, he had to wait until this weekend to be definite as to who he would face in a fight that could see him join Ryan Burnett and Katie Taylor as one of our reigning World champions.
Ryosuke Iwasa was in possession of the belt when Doheny became the top ranked contender, but the Japanese southpaw had a voluntary defense to overcome last weekend.
The 28-year-old did just that on Friday night as he beat overmatch Filipino Ernesto Saulong in his first defense.
Iwasa won over twelve lopsided rounds on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan and retained his title thanks to 120-108, 119-109, and 118-110 scorecards.
The elongated southpaw Iwasa captured the belt by dethroning compatriot Yukinori Oguni via sixth round stoppage in a mandatory title bout in Osaka last September, and retained it in the capital at the weekend.
After the clash Iwasa said “Sorry not to be able to finish him, but I’ll improve next time.”
Doheny will be hoping that is not the case. The Portlaoise puncher will be the next man to travel to Japan to take on Iwasa and revealed on social media that the champion’s camp “have confirmed they will face me next so it’s just a matter of time!”
The 31-year-old southpaw will be looking to become just the second fighter from Britain or Ireland to win a world title in Japan after the legendary Wayne McCullough who dethroned WBC bantam champ Yasuei Yakushiji in 1995.
Doheny first though has a warm-up bout on this month in Boston. On Saturday March 17th he will face Mike Oliver [26(8)-7(5)-1] in an eight-round keep-busy fight which headlines the nnual Murphys Boxing St Patrick’s Festival bill at the House of Blues.
