World Champion TJ Doheny plans to shine in his “first big night”

TJ Doheny [20(14)-0] plans to shine as the spotlight hits him for the first time in Madison Square Garden this weekend.

The Portlaoise native has had an off-Broadway route to the top, rising almost undercover Down Under before finally earning his shot with final eliminator victory in Thailand then claiming the IBF super bantamweight title in Tokyo.

While the fact ‘The Power’  landed the title in stunning fashion in Japan in August, ripping it from defending champion Ryosuke Iwasa, was well covered after the event, the build up was one of the under-the-radar kind. 

The 32-year-old’s title win played out in front of millions in Japan and on ESPN+ in America but was not broadcast by any network in the UK or Ireland.

Now with a Matchroom contract in hand and a first world title defence set for this Friday versus Ryohei Takahashi at The Theater in Madison Square Garden live on Sky Sports, Doheny finally gets to show his talents back home.

It’s a chance the Laois fighter is delighted to have and one he plans to take the most of.

Doheny explained how “I have prepared brilliantly for this fight and this is my time to shine.”

“I know he wants to rip the title from me, but this is my first big night under the spotlight and I intend to shine.”

Fittingly, Yokohama’s Takahashi will get the chance to return to the strap to the Far East where Doheny won the title and the Portlaoise BC graduate, who Eddie Hearn has Danny Roman unification plans for, loves the Japanese theme to his defence.

“I am delighted to face Ryohei in my first defense,” explained Doheny.

“I have massive respect for boxing in Japan having won my title there, and I know how motivated he will be in his first world title fight, just as I was in Tokyo.”