According to ESPN, Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) sustained an injury during training, causing the postponement of his May 7 fight in Yokohama, Japan, against Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) for the unified 122-pound championship.
The fight was set to be streamed on ESPN+ for viewers in the United States, but it will now be rescheduled for the summer in Japan. The injury's nature remains undisclosed, although sources report that it is not severe.
In January, Inoue vacated his four 118-pound titles after claiming the undisputed bantamweight championship with an 11th-round KO of Paul Butler, hoping to chase titles in a fourth weight class. The 28-year-old from Japan then secured a deal to fight ESPN’s No. 1 boxer at 122 pounds: Fulton, who holds the WBC and WBO junior featherweight titles.
Fulton is widely considered not only the top fighter at 122 pounds but also among the best across all weight classes. A matchup featuring him and Inoue is one of the sport’s most anticipated fights. Although Fulton has never fought outside of the United States, he stated in June that he believed a fight with Inoue was “realistic” if Inoue moved up to 122 pounds before Fulton jumped up to 126.
Image Credit: Sky Sports