Fight Preview: Conlan vs Doheny
Photo: ESPN
Undefeated rising star Michael Conlan (15-0, 8KOs) looks to continue his winning ways as he takes on former IBF champion TJ Doheny (22-2, 16KOs) on Friday, August 6 in a bout that will capture the attention of Ireland.
The event will take place at Falls Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland and stream live on ESPN+ under the Top Rank banner. This will be a 12-round bout in the super bantamweight division.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Conlan is a -650 betting favorite and Doheny is the underdog at +420.
For Conlan, this will be his second fight at super bantamweight. The fight will be a quick turnaround for him as his last one was in April of this year. His last bout saw him capture the WBO International title by majority decision against Ionut Baluta.
Conlan is a technically gifted and sharp boxer.
He is good at calculating distance and is able to get in and out of range for punches. Conlan is able to throw his shots and get out of range seamlessly, and that is complemented with smooth footwork.
Conlan can fight in both a southpaw and orthodox stance. He has elusive head movement which he can use offensively or defensively with a high rate of success.
His best asset is his lead hand, and that will be the key to victory in this fight.
For Doheny, this will be his first fight since March 2020. That fight saw him lose a unanimous decision to Ionut Baluta.
Doheny has a textbook style that he uses to create forward pressure on his opponent. He likes to break fighters down round-by-round and impose his will.
He also has the ability to increase the aggression and turn the fight into a slugfest. A prime example of that was his bout against Daniel Roman.
Doheny’s best asset will be his aggression, and if he can get Conlan out of his comfort, there is a chance fight fans could see an upset.
This bout is significant for both boxers. For Conlan, a victory here could make him next in line to fight WBO champion Stephon Fulton. For Doheny, this is an opportunity to keep his name in title contention in the super bantamweight division. If he loses again, it could be a long journey back to the title.
To watch Conlan vs Doheny, tune in Friday, August 6 on ESPN+ at 1pm EST.