Junior featherweight world titleholder TJ Doheny’s first defense will come against Ryohei Takahashi on Friday night at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced on Sunday.
Hearn signed Doheny on Monday and immediately added him to his DAZN card headlined by middleweight world titlist Demetrius Andrade’s first defense against Artur Akavov. However, there was a delay in finalizing the fight with Takahashi (16-3-1, 6 KOs), 28, of Japan, because he still needed to secure a visa to fight in the United States.
“I am delighted to face Ryohei in my first defense,” Doheny said. “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. But 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.”
Takahashi, who has not yet faced notable opposition, will be boxing in the United States for the first time.
“It is really an honor to fight a world title match in this big event,” he said. “I’ll show everyone a great fight and rise up as a champion. I will make it happen.”
Doheny (20-0, 14 KOs), 32, who is from Ireland and fights out of Australia, claimed a 122-pound world title in upset fashion when he traveled to Tokyo and won a unanimous decision against Ryosuke Iwasa on Aug. 16.
If Doheny wins it could pave the way to a spring world title unification fight with Daniel Roman (26-2-1, 10 KOs), 28, of Los Angeles, who is co-promoted by Hearn and also fights on DAZN.