Naoya Inoue, the erstwhile undisputed 118-pound champion, is about to embark on a formidable challenge. Having vacated all four of his previous belts, Inoue plans to ascend to the 122-pound class, aiming to clash with unified super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton in a high-stakes fight in Japan on July 29th. Aware of the magnitude of his undertaking, Inoue candidly remarked during an episode of “Camp Life” on ESPN, “From here it will be a real challenge. I’m pushing the boundaries of my build, my limits. I don't know what kind of fight this will be. I’ll do everything I can to win.”
Inoue’s remarkable journey in boxing began in 2012 at 108 pounds. From there, he steadily rose through the ranks, seizing world titles in the 108, 115, and finally, the 118-pound classes. The 30-year-old boxer’s tenure at 118 pounds, which began in 2018, witnessed nine victorious bouts against stalwarts such as Nonito Donaire, Jason Moloney, and Juan Carlos Payano. Confident in his abilities, Inoue declares, “I do think my boxing can win. No matter my style, I just need to focus on winning. I want to show my fans the belt around my waist at the end.”
The other protagonist in this epic battle is WBC and WBO champion Stephen Fulton. Despite being deemed the underdog in the fight, the 29-year-old Philadelphia-based boxer boasts a splendid three-fight winning streak since 2021, conquering formidable opponents such as Daniel Roman, Brandon Figueroa, and Angelo Leo. Commenting on his style, Fulton shared, “I feel like my fighting style is very smart and intelligent. I fight to my mood and however I am feeling.”
The highly anticipated Inoue-Fulton face-off, initially set for May 7, had been deferred to the summer due to an undisclosed injury sustained by Inoue in March. U.S. audiences can tune into ESPN+ in the early morning hours to watch this thrilling bout. The co-main event will showcase Robeisy Ramirez defending his WBO featherweight title against Satoshi Shimizu.
Image Credit: DAZN