TJ Doheny is still a contender at 122 pounds. 

He was able to prove that at the expense of an unbeaten prospect.

Doheny stopped Japhethlee Llamido in the opening round Tuesday night at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Doheny, who is originally from Portlaois, Ireland and now resides in Bondi Junction, Australia, improved to 25-4, 19 knockouts.

The 36-year-old was the underdog going into the fight, but Doheny proved that age is just a number as he was able to find the opening he needed to land the first jarring punch of the fight. 

With over a minute left in the round, Doheny moved forward, missing with a jab, but followed up with a left cross that dropped Llamido flat onto his back. Llamido beat the count, but Doheny followed up, battering him until referee Michiaki Someya stopped the fight at 2:28.

Doheny, a former IBF world junior featherweight titleholder, was considered a major step up for Llamido, who defeated modest opposition in recent months. 

In his previous fight on June 29, which also took place at Korakuen Hall, Doheny stopped once-beaten Kazuki Nakajima in the fourth round. Earlier this year, Doheny lost by unanimous decision to unbeaten Sam Goodman. 

Doheny has now won four of his last seven bouts since losing to then-WBA world junior featherweight titleholder in April 2019 in a unification fight. Doheny would lose the IBF title to Roman.

Llamido, who is originally from Long Beach, California and currently resides in Yokohama, Japan, falls to 11-1, 4 KOs. In his previous fight on April 15, Llamido defeated former world titleholder Ryosuke Iwasa by unanimous decision. 

The 23-year-old has been sparring former undisputed bantamweight and current world unified junior featherweight titleholder Naoya Inoue. 

In the main event, junior featherweight Toshiki Shimomachi of Osaka, Japan fought to a majority decision draw against Toshiya Ishii. One judge scored the bout 96-93 for Shimomachi (17-1-3, 11 KOs), while the other two judges scored the bout 95-95. 

Ishii, who resides in Fujimino, Japan, goes to 6-1-2, 4 KOs. 

Both fights took place on a card promoted by Hideyuki Ohashi. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing