THINGS move fast in boxing. Six months ago, TJ Doheny was one win away from dethroning arguably the greatest boxer in the sport today.

This weekend in Liverpool, he’s being credited as little more than a banana skin for the next generation in British boxing. That’s the fight game for you.

WRECKING BALL

The veteran Aussie-Irishman challenges Nick Ball in his hometown, as the Scouser looks to make a second successful defence of the world title he won in Saudi Arabia last summer.

‘Wrecking Ball’ is unbeaten in 22 fights, with 12 knockouts and is recognized as the leading fighter in British boxing today.

In reality perhaps that’s as much down to a process of elimination as anything else, after all, heavyweight Daniel Dubois is the only other male world title holder with a British passport.

Ball is a ferocious, high-tempo power puncher; a mini-Mike Tyson by design, who has been overwhelming opponents since making his debut in 2017.

THE POWER

At that stage, now 38-year-old Doheny was already closing in his first world title tilt.

When Ball was applying for his licence to box professionally, Doheny was 17-0 with 14 knockouts and less than a year away from becoming a champion of the world.

He travelled to Japan and defeated then super-bantamweight ruler Ryosuke Iwasa to start his own campaign as a king at 2018.

But after defending successfully in New York City, he lost the belt to LA’s Daniel Roman on away turf after just an eight-month spell as champ.

Troublesome Romanian Ionut Baluta ensured the bounced back didn’t go as planned, before a return to Ireland in 2021 also resulted in TJ being dropped by Michael Conlan before losing a decision.

He actually headed back to the scene of his greatest victory to reboot his career.

In Japan, he managed three wins on the spin heading into 2024 which unlocked the opportunity to challenge pound-for-pound ace Naoya Inoue for all the belts at 122lb.

Typically, Doheny rolled the dice and took his shot at greatness. But The Monster simply hits too hard, forcing a retirement after seven rounds. The only stoppage loss in his 26-5 career.

NEXT GENERATION

Ball, 28, now has his eyes on a potential Inoue match-up, should the Japanese superstar fancy a move up to featherweight soon.

And what better way to propose yourself as the ideal opponent than to put manners on Doheny in a similar fashion to Inoue.

That said, Doheny may be coming towards the end, but he’s tough, game, and punches hard enough to stop any opponent from taking liberties.

Ball had to come through three former or current world champions in succession to earn his world title. Each one over the full 12 rounds.

And whilst his first defence at the Echo Arena back in October saw him dismantle and destroy two-time world title contender Ronny Rios inside 10, Doheny won’t be as easy to hit.

If Ball can get the job done inside the distance, then he can really start pushing towards lucrative unification fights and perhaps even that legacy-defining matchup with Inoue.

When you can punch like TJ, you’ve always got a chance of an upset.

But Ball should be too fast, too young, too fit and just too much for Doheny at this stage in his career.

TIP: Ball by KO, Rounds 10-12 (4/1)

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