As TJ Doheny prepares to face Naoya "Monster" Inoue on Tuesday, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Irish warrior. All four super bantamweight titles are on the line, and Doheny is stepping into the ring as a significant underdog against one of boxing’s most feared champions.

Inoue, at the peak of his powers, is widely expected to overpower Doheny. Despite his underdog status, Doheny has never been stopped in his career, which offers a glimmer of hope. However, Inoue’s recent fight against Luis Nery showed a rare moment of vulnerability when he was knocked down for the first time in his career by a left hook. Inoue quickly recovered, but the knockdown revealed that even the most formidable fighters can be touched.

Some boxing insiders, including Top Rank’s Todd DuBoef, believe that Doheny should take a page from Nery’s book and "jump on Inoue" early. The idea is that an aggressive approach might catch Inoue off guard, as it did with Nery. However, this strategy comes with significant risks. While Nery’s early aggression did score a knockdown, Inoue’s subsequent retaliation was swift and brutal. Doheny could face a similar fate if he adopts this approach.

Watch how Doheny says all he needs is one punch: Watch

The question remains: what other strategy could Doheny realistically employ? Outboxing Inoue seems like an improbable task, given the Japanese champion’s superior skills and dominance at 122 pounds. Some speculate that Junto Nakatani, another rising star in Japan, might have the ability to outbox Inoue in the future, but for now, Doheny’s options appear limited.

Looking ahead, many are already speculating about a potential mega-fight between Inoue and Nakatani, which could become a reality if both fighters win their upcoming bouts. DuBoef has described Inoue and Nakatani as “rock stars” in Japan, and a clash between the two would undoubtedly be a massive event. However, before any of that can happen, Inoue must first get past Doheny, and Nakatani must overcome his next opponent, Tasana Salapet.

Read more about the most feared boxer of our generation here.

Image Credit: Sky Sports