A game TJ Doheny asked a few questions of Inoue but, just as the champ was showing signs that he was solving the puzzles, the fight was over.

Not a particularly satisfying end for Inoue you'd imagine but, if Bob Arum is to be believed, we'll be seeing him in the ring again soon.

You can read the full report of the action here.

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Doheny is carried away from the ring with the support of a trainer.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is in the ring now and says the plan is for Inoue to defend his titles once more in Tokyo before the end of the year.

After that, he says they'll be taking him to Las Vegas.

Not many gave Doheny a chance coming into this one but he was boxing smartly and forcing Inoue to adapt.

The champion was certainly still dictating the terms of the fight but it's an awful way for things to end from Doheny's perspective.

Whatever his injury, he's slumped on his stool at an awkward angle as Inoue addresses the crowd.

As Inoue goes on the offensive again to start the round, Doheny has picked up an injury and this fight is over.

He seemed to be motioning that he had a problem with his back.

16 seconds into the seventh round, and in a somewhat anti-climactic fashion, Inoue moves to 28-0.

Inoue starting to build combinations and Doheny has to absorb some damaging shots to the body once again.

The Irishman starting to show the toll as he goes back to his corner.

The pace of the fight definitely lifting in that fifth round.

Doheny still doing well to limit the opportunities but Inoue's body shots have to be taking their toll.

Doheny starts the fourth by landing a few off his left but as the round progresses, he's spending more and more time up against the ropes.

The crowd, who have been quiet in the early going, respond to Inoue's strong finish.

Doheny has been doing well to limit what's on offer Inoue and he comes forward a bit more to land a few shots of his own to the body.

He's making things awkward for Inoue here and it's been a smart fight from him so far.

Inoue has looks to land a few right handed body shots with one in particular knocking the Irishman back.

The round ends with a nice combination from the champ too.

Inoue certainly looking to assert himself more in that round.

A pretty tentative opener with both fighters feeling their way into the bout in the first round.

Doheny has been on this stage before of course, this is his fourth world title fight, but that will certainly have settled into him things.

We're underway in Tokyo.

We've had the anthems, the ring is clearing and we're about to get going.

Yoshiki Takei has beaten Daigo Higa to retain his WBO bantamweight title so all that's left is the main event.Ringwalks are just getting underway in Tokyo.

While most are expecting Inoue to move to 28-0, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum points out that upsets are part of boxing.

“Dohney is a really good puncher; a real gutty guy – a real tough Irishman," he said.

“He’s a tough guy and it should be a really interesting fight.

“Any idea there could be an upset – that’s boxing.”

Top Rank COO Brad Jacobs describes Inoue as a 'rocket ship' but is still expecting an exciting fight.

“This guy is like a rocket ship," he said.

“He’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world defending his titles against the guy who has knocked out every Japanese fighter he has fought. It should be an exciting one

“We’ve had the opportunities with the Manny Pacquio’s of this world, the Tyson Fury’s of this world. Inoue is special. He’s really special and the whole dynamic around him is terrific so it’s exciting for sure."

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Doheny won his own world title on Japanese soil with victory over Ryosuke Iwasa in 2019 and he has fought three more times in the country with more wins.

As such, he's well respected by Japanese fight fans and Inoue is wary of his opponent.

“I always look forward to stepping in the ring no matter where," he said.

“I think he (Doheny) lost a lot of water and he’ll probably get 10kg back during recovery.

“I feel his spirit. I have to concentrate more than usual for this fight.”

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Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI

Having been outclassed by Michael Conlan in the summer of 2021, some might be surprised to see TJ Doheny taking on one of this generation's finest talents in an undisputed bout.

That loss to Conlan in Belfast was in the midst of a run of four defeats in six. But Doheny, who was born in Portlaoise and has long been based in Australia, impressively revived his career with a trio of wins in Japan over the past year.

The most recent of those - a fourth-round stoppage against Bryl Bayogos of the Philippines in May - was on the undercard of Naoya Inoue's win over Mexican Luis Nery, who notably knocked the Japanese megastar down in the first round.

Now he's headlining alongside Inoue, who is looking to improve his record to 28-0. Not many are giving Doheny a chance here - and it is admittedly a big ask to stop the 'Monster' - but this isn't the first time the 37-year-old has been discounted.

Doheny believes he can "put on a good show" against Inoue.

"Everything is in perfect condition I couldn’t ask to be in a better position right now and I’m really honoured to be challenging for the undisputed world championship," he said at the Top Rank news conference.

Read more here.

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Both fighters boast impressive knockout numbers.

Of Inoue's 27 victories, 24 have come by way of knockout.

Indeed Nonito Donaire, who Irish boxing fans will remember from his bouts against Carl Frampton and Ryan Burnett, was the most recent fighter to take him 12 rounds, all the way back in November 2019.

Doheny has a record of 20 knockouts from his 26 wins.

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