“I was a bit of a brat” – Transformed TJ Doheny targets World Title
TJ Doheny [19(14)-0] plans to fulfil his potential as a boxer, starting with a world title win this week.
The Portlaoise super bantamweight challenges for the IBF title this Thursday morning, marking a major turnaround and proving the power of hard work.
A decent amateur – who holds a win over two-weight champion Carl Frampton – Doheny never won a Senior title in Ireland.
Beijing Olympic aspirations went by the wayside, and ‘The Power’ admits he had far from the model attitude while living in Ireland.
However, much like light middleweight contender Dennis Hogan, he credits a move to Australia and a change in attitude for transforming him to a world title challenger.
In a candid interview with Mick Foley in the Sunday Times, Doheny outlined how “I was a bit of a brat when I was back home but being here changed me. I matured so much.”
“It opened my eyes and broadened my mind to the opportunities if I keep my head down and work hard.”
“Looking back at my carry-on in Ireland and looking forward and thinking how much things have changed, did I want to fall into old habits or become someone I wanted to be? I knew I could make something of myself.”
Doheny, now 31, made a conscious choice after relocating to Sydney and the southpaw is now just days away from challenging champion Ryosuke Iwasa [25(16)-2(2)] at the famous Korauken Hall in Tokyo.
“I didn’t fulfil my potential [as an amateur],” he admits.
“I was a bit of a livewire. And that was a huge part of my thinking going professional, I don’t want to have regrets when I hang up the gloves. I just want to push on.”
Doheny, who in recent fights has taken to relocating to his adopted home of Sydney to Boston, now would describe himself as a model pro.
Much has changed since his days in the amateurs and he described how “people give me stick because all I do is train and go back to the room. But if I go out gallivanting I tend to lose focus, I like staying in the zone.”
“It benefits me coming out here [Boston]. It’s tough on my family and all but we know what’s at the end of the tunnel.”
Read Mick Foley’s fantastic interview with TJ Doheny in full here
