Naoya Inoue and Doheny threw down in a bout that quickly shifted from a slow start to a full-on clinic by Inoue. Initially sizing each other up in the first round, Inoue ramped up the intensity in the following rounds, focusing heavily on body shots that steadily wore Doheny down. Doheny managed to win a round with some clever body work, but that was about as good as it got for him.
As the fight progressed, Inoue’s strategy was clear—target the body, and it paid off big time. He dominated the middle rounds with precision and power, landing heavy, impactful shots. By the seventh round, Doheny was unable to continue due to a rib injury inflicted by Inoue’s relentless attacks, leading to a TKO victory for Inoue.
Round 1: We start off with a yawn fest. Naoye Inoue probably spent more time thinking about his post-fight meal than Doheny. But he flicks the switch at the last second, just to make sure he pockets the round. (10-9 Inoue)
Round 2: Now we’re cooking! Inoue decides it’s time to spice things up, peppering Doheny’s ribs like a master chef. That’s gotta sting! (10-9 Inoue)
Round 3: Doheny whips out some clever moves and lands a beauty to the body, nicking a round off the champ. A glimmer of hope, or just Inoue letting him have a taste of glory? (10-9 Doheny)
Round 4: A bit of a lull again as both fighters throw a few love taps. Doheny connects a couple, but Inoue’s like, “Is that all you got?” and taps him back. (10-9 Inoue)
Round 5: Inoue’s back to his bossy best, unloading two slick uppercuts. Doheny’s in the mix, too, but mostly just absorbing the symphony of punches. (10-9 Inoue)
Round 6: The onslaught continues. Inoue’s targeting Doheny’s body like it owes him money, and Doheny’s responses are looking about as effective as a chocolate teapot. (10-9 Inoue)
Round 7: And just like that, it’s game over! Doheny’s ribs wave the white flag thanks to Inoue’s relentless targeting. The fight stops quicker than you can say “rib roast,” and Inoue struts away with all his belts intact. (TKO Inoue)
Yoshiki Takei kept his crown snug and secure on his head, hanging onto the WBO bantamweight title after total war against Daigo Higa. Both lads went toe-to-toe, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at each other. From bell to bell, it was a proper scrap fest, leaving fans screaming for more! The judges scores: 115-112 and 114-113 twice.
Higa gave Takei a proper run for his money, rocking him more than a few times throughout the bout. Now, with Takei clinging to his title by the skin of his teeth, all eyes are locked on Naoya Inoue, who’s up next to excite the crowd.
Down to the wire, Takei wasn’t holding anything back in the final round, launching everything but the kitchen sink at Higa, who absorbed the barrage like a champ. Despite the onslaught, Higa stayed upright, dodging the knockout blow and leaving it all up to the judges, who tipped it just in Takei’s favor
In the super lightweight category, Andy Hiraoka (23-0-0) put on quite a clinic, schooling Ismael Barroso (25-4-2) before stopping him cold with a TKO at 2:58 in the ninth round.
Jin Sasaki (17-1-1) wowed the crowd, dispatching Qamil Balla (15-1-1) with a sharp TKO just 52 seconds into the seventh round. Sasaki’s punches aren’t just hard; they’re like RSVPs to the canvas, and Balla definitely got the invite.
The super bantamweight fight was a masterclass in precision and poise as Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3) outmaneuvered Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1-0) over 10 rounds. With scores of 97-92, 96-93, and 96-93, it’s clear Shimomachi not only fought but also thought his way to victory.
