By Anthony Cocks

A Laois councillor has called on IBF super bantamweight champion TJ 'The Power' Doheny 21-0 (15) to return home to defend his world championship.

The 32-year-old Irish southpaw, who now boxes out of Sydney, Australia, claimed the world title with a 12-round unanimous points win over Japanese fighter Ryosuke Iwasa in his own backyard of Tokyo in August 2018.

The Portlaoise native is currently in camp preparing for a unification clash with highly-regarded WBA counterpart Daniel Roman 26-2-1 (10) at the Forum in Inglewood, California on April 26.

It will be Doheny’s second straight bout in the United States this year after stopping Japan’s Ryohei Takahashi inn 11 rounds at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden in January.

If successful against Roman this month, Portlaoise county councillor Noel Tuohy wants Doheny to return to his homeland to defend his world championship belts at O’Moore Park.

Tuohy tabled a motion at the March council meeting seeking support from the Laois County Council to help secure the proposed homecoming.

“TJ has won all 21 of his fights. Extraordinary stuff. He is the best on the planet at his weight. This needs to be recognised,” Touhy said according to the Leinster Express.

“What goes on in O’Moore Park is the reserve of the GAA but they have never been found wanting. TJ started his career in Portlaoise boxing club.”

Cathaoirleach councillor John King noted that Laois County Council had previously held a civic reception and open top parade for Doheny in the wake of his world title winning effort in 2018.

“We were very proud to do that,” he said.