Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super-bantamweight champion, continued his reign of dominance in the boxing world, defeating Irish challenger TJ Doheny in the seventh round of their title fight at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Tuesday. The fight, however, ended abruptly due to an apparent back injury suffered by Doheny early in the seventh round.

Doheny, a former world champion, had put up a spirited challenge against Inoue, known as “The Monster,” but the Japanese boxer's relentless pressure and bodywork eventually proved too much. Inoue had been building momentum in the sixth round, landing an overhead right to rock Doheny, who clutched his back in the final seconds of the round. The pressure continued into the seventh, and a left hook to Doheny’s right side triggered a back issue, causing Doheny to withdraw injured. This was Doheny's first loss via stoppage.

Inoue, a four-division world champion, celebrated his 28th successive win with a muted celebration, acknowledging the circumstances of the victory. He expressed his respect for Doheny, highlighting his toughness and the competitive nature of the fight. “I think it was more the accumulation of damage that I gave to him,” Inoue said through a translator after the fight. “I know boxing is not easy, so I really wanted to be slowing down, doing one [round] at a time, giving my opponent damage.”

The victory cemented Inoue's status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He joins a select group of fighters, including Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk, to achieve undisputed two-weight champion status, having unified the WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF titles at 122lbs after moving up from the bantamweight division. Inoue's dominance in the ring has made him a must-watch for boxing fans worldwide, with his victories often ending in spectacular fashion, but Doheny's resistance prevented a knockout finish this time.

Inoue has become a global phenomenon, having achieved this milestone in the ring. With a career record of 28-0, with 25 knockouts, Inoue has captured the attention of boxing fans worldwide. Promoter Bob Arum has revealed that Inoue will have one more title defense in Japan before the end of the year before heading to the United States for a big fight in Las Vegas in 2025.

While Inoue has cemented his place as a boxing icon, the question now is who will step up to challenge the undisputed champion. The talk of a potential super fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis has surfaced, and a potential matchup against Japan's Junto Nakatani has also been floated. Nakatani is the current 118-pound champion, and he possesses a three-inch height advantage over Inoue, which might be a challenge for the champion to overcome.

Both Nakatani and Davis are formidable fighters with a strong record, and they represent exciting possibilities for Inoue in the future. It is still unclear who will be next in line for Inoue's championship, but one thing is certain, as Inoue himself stated after the fight, “You can expect more from me in the future,”

Inoue's Dominance Continued

The fight started with Doheny making the bout awkward with his sharp movements and experience, but Inoue soon found solutions. He began to ramp up the pressure, landing a powerful combination in the third round, but it was in the fourth round that he began to break Doheny down. Inoue closed out the sixth round strongly, with his body work taking its toll on the Irishman. Doheny left the ring in clear pain, and without conducting an interview.

The Next Challenger

Inoue's dominance has been so remarkable that fans and analysts are eager to see who can step up and challenge him. The discussion of a potential super fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis is gaining momentum, with a potential matchup against Japan's Junto Nakatani also being discussed. With every victory, Inoue's profile rises, and the challenge remains: Who will be the next fighter to step up to the challenge?

The Future is Bright for 'The Monster'

Inoue's win over Doheny further cemented his place as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He is a fighter who is always looking to improve, and he has a long and exciting career ahead of him. With Inoue’s incredible talent, it's impossible to predict who will be able to dethrone him, but the possibilities are exciting for boxing fans. With the next fight potentially taking place in Las Vegas, it's just a matter of time before Inoue's name is etched into boxing history books as one of the greatest fighters of all time.