Undefeated super bantamweight Michael Conlan 15-0 (8) will clash with former IBF 122-pound champion TJ Doheny 22-2 (16) at Falls Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland on August 6.
The all-Irish clash will be part of the Feile an Phobail Festival and will be promoted by Top Rank and broadcast in the United States on ESPN+.
The 29-year-old Conlan, who is ranked the number one contender to Stephen Fulton’s IBF crown, will be fighting in his hometown for just the third time in his professional career.
Two years ago he knocked out Diego Alberto Ruiz in nine rounds at featherweight at the same venue where he will face Doheny.
“I’m very excited to be back fighting in my city,” Conlan said. “In 2019 it was special but I believe this year it will be more so as we have been starved of live events due to the pandemic but August 6th will show Belfast is back!”
Southpaw Doheny, 34, who hails from Portlaois but more recently has been based in Sydney, Australia, wrested the IBF belt from Ryosuke Iwasa on points in Japan three years ago.
He made one successful title defence against Ryohei Takahashi by 11th round knockout at New York’s Madison Square Garden before dropping a majority decision to WBA champion Daniel Roman in Los Angeles in April 2019.
It’s a honour to share the ring with TJ, I have a lot of respect for him and his achievements being a former world champion,” Conlan said. “I believe it’s my toughest fight to date and with that I will make my biggest statement in my quest to be world champion.”
For Doheny it will mark his first fight in his home country since turning pro nine years ago. His first 14 bouts were held in his adopted country of Australia before fighting on the road in the US, Thailand, Japan and Dubai.
In his last fight in March last year Doheny suffered a shock loss on points to little-known Romanian Ionut Baluta over eight rounds at featherweight. Baluta would go on to drop a 12-round majority decision to Conlan at super bantamweight in April.
“I’m really happy to be back in action after being out of the ring for over a year,” Doheny said. “This will be my first time fighting on Irish soil and what a way to make a homecoming.
“It’s arguably Ireland’s top two fighters going at it in front of a large crowd. It doesn’t get much bigger than this for an all-Irish clash and the fans are in for a real treat.
“This is the kind of fight that I have been craving since my split decision loss to Danny Roman in a world title unification. High level opposition is what motivates me and helps me raise my game and I cannot wait for this.”
