WelshDevilRob Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 Huge fight and it's taking place in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Stephen Fulton, 28, with a record of 21-0, 8 KOs is the champion. He holds the WBC & WBO World super bantamweight titles. He has qaulity wins over Angelo Leo, Brandon Figueroa and Daniel Roman. Naoya Inoue, 29, with a record of 24-0, 21 KOs is the challenger. He holds a WBA strap, at the weight, but that doesn't seem to be on the line. He's a 3, or 4, weight World champion - however you look at it and if you can keep up. 'The Monster' has beaten the likes of Juan Carlos Payano, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Nonito Donaire and Jason Moloney. Big fight at the lower weights, who takes it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ledhed1 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Don't think Inoue has anything at 122; he's just moving up. But wouldn't put anything past the WBA! Good to see PBC doesn't control everyone's career in that shop. Fulton's reaching for the stars here and taking to the road to boot. TopRank's arrangement with Inoue doesn't seem to have taken. He's had two nondescript fights in the States since the TopRank deal. Otherwise he's been fighting in Japan on Tuesday mornings USA time. Not what TopRank envisioned I reckon. Anyway, Fulton's shown himself to be a superb boxer. Gone the 12 round distance in his last four. Leo, Figueroa and Roman are quality wins. Inoue is otherworldly. He's adjusted every step of the way up the scale with no diminution of his power. Been stopping everyone one other than that war with Donaire in their first fight. Home ring advantage doesn't hurt. Fulton's never fought outside the States, even as an amateur save 1 fight in Mexico in the WSB. Fulton is slightly bigger but not that much. Both at prime ages. Fulton's really good but this is a step too far. Credit to him for challenging himself at the highest level. But I see Inoue adding a fourth weight class to his CV in this spot. Then he likely targets Akhmadaliev for undisputed status. After that? He's likely done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 - - Possible that Inoue will max out at 122 like Canelo did vs Bivol at 175, however... Inoue has proven to be elite and driven in his career. Fulton more a plucky American in a weak division where he has little fan base or upside other than the belts, ie Inoue for me... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ledhed1 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Naoya Inoue injured, bout vs. Stephen Fulton ppd. By Mike Coppinger, ESPN Naoya Inoue suffered an injury in training and his May 7 fight in Yokohama, Japan, vs. Stephen Fulton for the unified 122-pound championship has been postponed. The fight is being rescheduled for the summer in Japan, sources said. The nature of the injury is unclear, per sources, but the severity isn't deemed serious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ledhed1 Posted 20 hours ago Share Posted 20 hours ago Stephen Fulton-Naoya Inoue fight rescheduled for July in Tokyo By Mike Coppinger, ESPN The Stephen Fulton-Naoya Inoue fight for Fulton's unified junior featherweight championship has been rescheduled for July 25 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Inoue's American promoter, Top Rank, announced Wednesday. Inoue, ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, suffered an undisclosed injury while training earlier this month ahead of the scheduled May 7 fight against Fulton in Yokohama, Japan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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