TJ Doheny vs Ryohei Takahashi set for Jan. 18

IBF super bantamweight titleholder TJ Doheny will be making his first title defense on Jan. 18 in New York as expected, as challenger Ryohei Takahashi of Japan has received his visa in time to travel for the fight.

Doheny (20-0, 14 KO) recently signed with Matchroom Boxing after winning the belt last August against Ryosuke Iwasa in Japan. Born in Ireland and living in Australia, the 32-year-old Doheny is a vulnerable titleholder, or at least it would seem, which could give Takahashi (16-3-1, 6 KO) a shot at an upset.

But Doheny will be the favorite here. Takahashi, 28, is really a domestic level fighter in Japan, and his qualifications as a world title challenger are, frankly, pretty suspect.

Doheny-Takahashi will be part of the DAZN-streamed card from Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, which also features Demetrius Andrade vs Artur Akavov, Jorge Linares vs Pablo Cesar Cano, Chris Algieri vs Daniel Gonzalez, and Amanda Serrano vs Eva Voraberger.

To watch Andrade vs Akavov, sign up for DAZN and receive one month free!