Today at 6:45 am ET streaming live on ESPN+ in the United States, Ryosuke Iwasa returns to the ring in Tokyo at the famed Korakuen Hall to defend his IBF super bantamweight title against mandatory challenger TJ Doheny.
Iwasa (25-2, 16 KO) has won six straight fights following a 2015 loss to Lee Haskins in the United Kingdom, and took the title from Yukinori Oguni last September in Osaka. The 28-year-old southpaw has already defended once, beating Ernesto Saulong by decision on March 1.
Doheny (19-0, 14 KO) is an Irishman fighting out of Australia. Despite his mandatory status, he’s never fought a contender in the pro ranks, the closest being his win last December over Mike Tawatchai. Most recently, he fought faded American veteran Mike Oliver on March 17 in Boston, winning by second round TKO. This is his first world title shot, at age 31, and easily the biggest fight of his career.