Naoya Inoue will return to the ring again in September.
Sam Goodman, an IBF mandatory challenger, was originally scheduled to take on the undefeated super-bantamweight world champion.
On July 10, Goodman chose to participate in a stand-in fight against Chainoi Worawut, but during the unanimous decision victory, he sustained a hand injury.
Doheny, who was defeated by Goodman in March of last year, will now take on Inoue at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on September 3.
Eddie Hearn, the head of Mathchroom Boxing, was not pleased with the announcement and turned to X to post a picture of a mound of poo emoji behind a poster promoting the match.
In response to initial rumors that Doheny would face Inoue next, Hearn told BoxNation that he was “gutted, devastated, and disappointing for boxing.” Not good news for Japan.
“I would have taken this fight seriously if I hadn’t collaborated with TJ Doheny five or six years ago.
“But I don’t want to disrespect TJ because he’s a nice guy.”
Hearn had hoped that Inoue would defend himself against WBA No. 1 Murodjon Akhmadaliev and his client, but that was not to be.
He went on, “It’s a horrifying mismatch.” “I don’t know why, but Team Inoue, Mr. Honda, and everyone else—I know for a fact—don’t like the Akhmadaliev fight for some reason.
“I find it incomprehensible that there is a contender who is arguably the best pound for pound and can challenge his mandatory.