Naoya Inoue is still under pressure ahead of her duel against TJ Doheny

Japan's Naoya Inoue (L) and Ireland's TJ Doheny pose after the official weigh-in ahead of their super bantamweight boxing match at a hotel in Yokohama on September 2, 2024. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Japan's undisputed and undefeated super bantamweight champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue said “the pressure doesn't change” as he prepares to face Ireland's TJ Doheny at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Inoue, who has a record of 27-0 (24 KOs), is stepping into the ring for the first time since stopping Mexican Luis Nery in front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome in May.

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His opponent is Irishman Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), who held the IBF super bantamweight world title from 2018 to 2019.

READ: Naoya Inoue defends title against Ireland's TJ Doheny

Inoue will fight in front of a smaller crowd in the Japanese capital, but his mindset remains the same with all four of his title belts on the line.

“The pressure doesn't change, it doesn't matter that the last fight was in the Tokyo Dome,” he told reporters after making weight for the fight on Monday.

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“The fun I have while fighting is the most important thing. It doesn't matter where the fight takes place, when I step into the ring I have expectations of myself.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he added.

The 31-year-old Inoue once again demonstrated his raw power against Nery in his first title defense since becoming undisputed super bantamweight champion last December.

However, he had to recover from being knocked down by the Mexican in the first round, which was the first blow of his career.

READ: Naoya Inoue shakes off early scare to knock out Luis Nery

Inoue got up and knocked his opponent down in the following round before sending him to the mat again in the fifth round and finishing him with a right hook in the sixth round.

Inoue is only the second man to become undisputed world champion in two different weight classes since the start of the four-belt era in 2004. American Terence Crawford was the first.

He will be the overwhelming favorite against the 37-year-old Doheny, who defeated Filipino Bryl Bayagos in his last fight as a prelude to the Inoue fight at the Tokyo Dome.

Inoue said he expected Doheny to come into the fight at a significantly higher weight than his weigh-in of 55.1 kg (121.5 lb).

“But boxing is not just about who is physically bigger,” Inoue said.

“Tomorrow I want to show my boxing skills.”