Naoya Inoue knocks out Stephen Fulton
In an electrifying display of skill and power, Naoya Inoue emerged victorious in a historic clash against Stephen Fulton, securing the WBO and WBC titles in his very first super-bantamweight bout. The highly-anticipated event took place on Tuesday at the prestigious Ariake Arena in Tokyo, where Inoue showcased his exceptional talents before a captivated audience.
Inoue's ascent through the weight divisions has been nothing short of remarkable. Having previously dominated the light-flyweight category, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming an undisputed champion at bantamweight in his most recent fight. Now, stepping up to the 122-pound weight class, Inoue demonstrated his unwavering determination by challenging Fulton, widely regarded as the top boxer in the division, without the need for a warm-up fight.
Fulton, brimming with confidence and armed with his own collection of titles, arrived in Tokyo prepared to defend his status against the formidable Japanese superstar. With both fighters boasting unblemished records, Inoue at 25-0 with 22 wins by knockout and Fulton at 21-0 (8), the stage was set for an epic clash.
Undeterred by Fulton's initial claim to the center of the ring, Inoue fearlessly pressed forward, skillfully evading the champion's jabs while launching his own powerful assaults. With each thudding jab connecting, Inoue's confidence swelled, allowing him to effortlessly string together devastating combinations.
Closing the distance between them with remarkable speed, Inoue relentlessly pursued Fulton whenever the American attempted to retreat. In the second round, Inoue unleashed a barrage of punches, showcasing his power and immediately asserting his dominance in the super-bantamweight division.
Displaying his self-assuredness, Inoue even taunted Fulton by tapping his chin, momentarily showboating before delivering a thunderous right cross. Though Fulton attempted to block the blow with his gloves, Inoue's relentless precision proved too much for the champion to handle.
Fulton managed to regain his composure in the fourth round, intercepting Inoue with well-timed jabs. However, he struggled to dictate the pace of the fight, as Inoue continued to land ferocious combinations, punishing Fulton's body despite the American's occasional counterattacks.
In the eighth round, Inoue inflicted significant damage on Fulton, staggering him with a powerful one-two combination. Seizing the opportunity, Inoue followed up with a sweeping left hook that sent Fulton sprawling to the canvas. Sensing victory, Inoue briefly celebrated by leaping onto the ring post, though Fulton valiantly rose to his feet.
Refusing to let his opponent off the hook, Inoue resumed his relentless assault, cornering Fulton and unleashing a barrage of hooks from both hands. Overwhelmed by the onslaught, Fulton found himself unable to defend against Inoue's relentless power. As he sank back to the canvas, the referee swiftly intervened, waving off the contest and declaring Inoue the victor.
Following the impressive triumph, an elated Inoue expressed his gratitude to both teams for accepting the fight, acknowledging the unfortunate delay caused by his injury. "Last year, I became an undisputed champion and returned all the belts to become a super-bantamweight. Everything I was thinking about in my mind was to fight him [Fulton] earlier this year, but unfortunately, I got injured and had to postpone the fight. I'm sorry to my team, to Fulton's team, but thank you for accepting this fight once again," Inoue shared.
Inoue's triumph as the unified super-bantamweight champion marked a spectacular culmination of his journey, leaving him overjoyed with his well-deserved victory.
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