ONE COULD HAVE been forgiven for projecting a symbolism onto TJ Doheny’s defeat to pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue in Tokyo last September. Having fought gallantly in his challenge of the undisputed super-bantamweight ‘Monster’, even nicking a round or two off the four-weight world champion, Doheny peeled away from an assault in the seventh round holding his back. As his back muscles locked up and spasmed, he was forced to take a knee to avoid further punishment.
Inoue [29-0, 26KOs] retained his belts. Doheny [26-5, 20KOs] had earned every cent of his lucrative retirement payday but his courage had written a cheque that his 37-year-old body couldn’t cash. There could be no qualms — Inoue was comfortably ahead (59-55 x2, 58-56).
There was certainly no embarrassment — Doheny had exceeded expectations in taking it as far as the seventh. If anything, it seemed a graceful way to bow out: Inoue has for years made his name on violently mowing down world-level opponents but Doheny could be felled only by time itself. Even the 1/100 favourite Inoue, one of boxing’s true stars, respectfully inferred that Doheny’s remarkable journey in the boxing ring had reached its natural conclusion: “In this match especially, I want to celebrate how TJ Doheny brought the fight to this ring, and his career,” said The Monster of the Portlaoise man, who is hugely respected in Japan due to his previous upset victories in Inoue’s home country.
“I would like to thank him.” Dohen.
