By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

IBF junior featherweight champion Ryosuke Iwasa, Japan, will put his belt on the line against unbeaten #1 contender TJ Doheny, from Australia, today (Thursday) in Tokyo, Japan. The weigh-in ceremony was held and both successfully made weight: Iwasa 121.75, Doheny 122-pound class limit.

The IBF officials are as follows: referee Mario Gonzalez (Argentina); judges Jonathan Davis(US), Tony Marretta (Australia), Katsuhiro Nakamura (Japan); supervisor Anibal Miramontes (US).

It will be the second defense of the IBF 115-pound belt for Iwasa, 28, since he captured it by stopping compatriot Yukinori Ogawa in September of the previous year. For Doheny, an aggressive southpaw puncher, 31, it will be his first opportunity to fight in quest of a world championship. The all-southpaw contest will be shown live by NTV in Japan and by ESPN+ in US.