Stephen Fulton vs. Angelo Leo - January 23, 2021

[Las Vegas boxing guy]

TBH, I'm biased here .. Angelo Leo is a local Las Vegas fighter that I've witnessed compete live on many occasions. He's really grown as a boxer and is fighting at an intelligent level. Prediction : I think Leo will DOMINATE this affair and earn a stoppage victory in round 9 (probably earlier).

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ellerbe calls Leo the underdog vs. Fulton

Mayweather Promotions' CEO Leonard Ellerbee discussed the first title defense for WBO junior featherweight champion Angelo Leo on social media. Ellerbe tweeted, "Our WBO 122lb champ Angelo Leo takes on super talented Stephen Fulton on January 23rd on Showtime Boxing. This bout is one you don’t want to miss! Although Leo is the champ, he’s the underdog on January 23rd lots of fighters/friends I know are picking Fulton aka Scooter. Love it, and still... The entire 122-pound division is fire but imo I feel we’re getting the top two young guns fighting each other in their prime on Showtime." Leo won the vacant title against previously undefeated Tramaine Wiliams in August. Leo was originally set to face Fulton, but the coronavirus had other plans, so Fulton (20-1 including the World Series of Boxing) gets his chance in 2021.

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Press Release

In the long-awaited battle between undefeated rising junior featherweight stars, WBO 122-pound World Champion Angelo Leo meets Stephen “Cool Boy” Fulton Jr., in the main event of the first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast of 2021 Saturday, January 23 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT live on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The co-main event pits two more undefeated 122-pound boxers against each other as Ra’eese Aleem and Victor Pasillas face off in a 12-round bout for the interim WBA title. The telecast opener features rising prospect Rolando Romero against Justin Pauldo in a 12-round lightweight bout for Romero’s interim WBA title. The combined ring record of the six fighters on the card is a remarkable 96 wins with just one loss.

The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions.

"We're rolling straight into 2021 ready to keep creating as many opportunities as we can for our fighters,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Angelo Leo and Rolando Romero will both be defending their titles for the first time and will be put to yet another test in their respective bouts. Everyone has been working hard and fine-tuning in preparation for January 23, and it's going to be another great night of boxing filled with very exciting talent to kick off the new year."

“Leo vs. Fulton is a true 50-50 matchup between two rising stars entering the primes of their careers,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fulton’s chance at capturing the title was delayed but his opportunity finally comes January 23 on SHOWTIME. Leo worked incredibly hard to capture the world championship in August and will come prepared and determined to defend it successfully.

“The super bantamweight division will have a clear world title contender emerge from the co-main event, a battle of unbeatens between Aleem and Pasillas. Add in the opening bout of ‘Rolly’ Romero vs. Justin Pauldo, a fight that can launch a prospect into a contender, and we have an excellent fight card to kick off the year.”

Leo (20-0, 9 KOs), who fights out of the Mayweather Promotions stable, became the first world champion from his hometown of Albuquerque, N.M., since legendary three-division champion Johnny Tapia when he defeated Tramaine Williams by unanimous decision in August. The 26-year-old was originally scheduled to face Fulton for the vacant WBO junior featherweight world title that evening in the first SHOWTIME boxing event following the pandemic shutdown of the sport, but Fulton was forced to withdraw following a positive COVID-19 test.

"It's been a crazy year for everyone but to say I walked out of 2020 a world champion is truly incredible and humbling,” said Leo. “I spent 16 years training for that moment to become a champion, and here I am, preparing for my next camp for my first defense top of 2021. That's a blessing, and I thank Mayweather Promotions and my team for that. My experiences with Floyd last camp going to really put me in a great position going into this fight.

"My father Miguel has been instrumental in keeping me grounded and reminding me that all of these fighters are eyeing my spot. My goal in 2021 is to remain champion and get more belts and Fulton is that next test."

Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pa. Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs) has faced impressive competition in his young career while rising up the 122-pound ranks, where he is currently rated No. 1 by the WBO. In his last 12 professional fights, the 26-year-old has beaten seven unbeaten fighters, including Josh Greer, Adam Lopez and Luis Saul Rosario. Fulton’s two most recent wins are a knockout over Isaac Avelar in August 2019 before most recently scoring a dominant 12-round unanimous decision victory over Arnold Khegai in January.

"Training is going great," said Fulton. "I feel like everything happens for a reason because I'm 10 times more ready now than I was the first time around. I'm excited to fight for the title and I expect nothing but Angelo Leo to be himself and fight his fight on January 23."

Ranked in the top-10 by the WBA and IBF at 122 pounds, Aleem (17-0, 11 KOs) can take a big step closer to a world title shot when he faces fellow unbeaten Pasillas for the interim WBA strap on January 23. Raised in Michigan and training out of Las Vegas, Nev., Aleem, 30, has stopped his past six opponents inside the distance as he continues to step up his competition.

“This is a high-stakes fight and the winner will get a guaranteed world title fight,” said Aleem. “It's going to be a good fight, but I am at the top of the heap. I knew I belonged at the top a long time ago and after my last fight that was proven. Winning this fight makes me the number-one contender, and the only thing left after this is to win the world title.”

Pasillas (15-0, 8 KOs), who hails from East Los Angeles, is fresh off a dominating sixth-round knockout over then-unbeaten Ranfis Javier Encarnacion in September 2020 which launched him into the WBA’s top-10 rankings. Like Aleem, the 28-year-old Pasillas also carries significant power. He has stopped his four most recent foes including a first-round knockout of Ernesto Guerrero.

“I’ve envisioned being in this position since I first stepped into a boxing gym at age eight and now it’s time to seize the moment,” said Pasillas. “I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity and show the world, and everyone watching on SHOWTIME, that I belong on the big stage with the elite fighters at super bantamweight. Aleem is a good fighter, but he won’t be able to hang with me. I’m going to punish him until I knock him out. East L.A. in the house, let’s go!”

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nev., Romero (12-0, 10 KOs) returns to SHOWTIME following his controversial unanimous decision victory over Jackson Marinez in August. The 25-year-old captured the interim WBA lightweight title with that win and went the distance for just the second time in his professional career. Fighting under the Mayweather Promotions banner, Romero has been matched tough early in his career with just two losses among his four most recent opponents including the once-defeated Pauldo.

"I'm going to approach this fight like I do any other fight, I don't feel the need to sell myself,” said Romero. “I'm thankful for my fans who have been with me since day one. I fight for them, because a fan of Rolly is to be an underdog, to be doubted, and that's all I have ever been. Whether you're with me on January 23 or against me, I know you will be watching."

Following an impressive unanimous decision victory over a tough Josec Ruiz in August 2020, Pauldo (14-1, 7 KOs) returns against the stiffest test of his career when he faces blue-chip prospect Romero. Hailing from Orlando, Fla. and training in Houston, Texas, Pauldo, 26, owns a four-inch reach advantage over Romero, who is the third unbeaten foe of his career.

"I'm thankful for this opportunity and I'm excited for all of my years of hard work to pay off on January 23," said Pauldo. "I was already training and in shape when I got the call for this fight, so I'm going to be 100% on fight night. Romero is a one-gear type of fighter who comes straight forward. I believe that I have the better skills and am the better all-around fighter. This is definitely going to be an interesting fight with contrasting styles, and I can't wait to show off my skills and bring this title home."

[Best Coast]

I predict Fulton by competitive but clearcut decision win.

[margaret thatcher]

steph got too much of that afro american silkyness to him, will win a clear decision

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Angelo Leo: Wasn't My Best Performance Last Fight, Fans Didn't Get To See Best Of Me Yet

Winning the title was never the end game for Angelo Leo.

Defending it is a step in that direction, though more so an opportunity to show all the things he didn’t have the chance to offer in his last outing.

“Fans definitely didn’t get to see the best of me yet, because that wasn’t even my best performance that night,” Leo told Boxing Scene ahead of his upcoming 122-pound title defense versus unbeaten Stephen Fulton.

The Jan. 23rd headliner—which airs live on Showtime from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut—comes five months after the pair of unbeaten junior featherweights were first due to collide.

Leo and Fulton were set to fight for the vacant title last August, atop the first Showtime card since the pandemic. Philadelphia’s Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs) was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19 during fight week, leaving Albuquerque’s Leo (20-0, 9 KOs) to face then-unbeaten Tramaine Williams (19-1, 6KOs) on just three days’ notice. The new pairing came against a southpaw boxer, a style in stark contrast to that of the conventional style of Fulton. The 26-year old boxer—who now lives and trains in Las Vegas—made the most of the night, scoring a lopsided 12-round decision though in a performance which he knows there remains plenty of room for improvement.

“We got the job done. There’s a lot more that I have to do,” admits Leo, who attempts his first title defense with the rescheduled bout. “It’s hard to prepare for someone on three days’ notice. We had two months to prepare for a righty in Fulton and then—boom—we’re fighting a slick southpaw on three days’ notice. We had to make the best of it.”

Interestingly, Leo entered their originally scheduled fight as a +300 underdog (Fulton entered as a -400 betting favorite). The current odds have been bet down by more than half, with Leo as low as +130 with some sportsbooks though nevertheless still entering as the betting underdog.

Perhaps it’s just further proof that the world has yet to see the defending titlist at his very best.

“I think that a lot of people still underestimate me,” notes Leo. “I just think that with Fulton’s résumé, him having those wins over unbeaten fighters, it could sway opinion to believe he should be the favorite. A lot of people have seen him a lot more on Showtime and other networks than they’ve seen me.

“That’s fine, though. I like being the underdog. I like being the guy that has to upset the odds.”

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Showtime in the spotlight this week

Showtime Boxing takes center stage this week starting Wednesday with their first ShoBox telecast of 2021. That will be followed on Saturday by the first Showtime Championship Boxing telecast of the year. Both shows will take place behind closed doors at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Saturday’s show features three world title fights, headlined by undefeated WBO junior featherweight champion Angelo Leo (20-0, 9 KOs) against Stephen Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs).

The co-main event pits undefeated super bantamweights Raeese Aleem (17-0, 11 KOs) and Vic Pasillas (16-0, 9 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim 122lb title. The opener is WBA interim lightweight champ Rolando “Rolly” Romero (12-0, 10 KOs) defending against Justin Pauldo (14-1, 7 KOs).

[gilgamesh]

When did Showtime boxing cards start looking like something you'd see on Fox Sports?

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Leo: I Have A Lot Of Doubters & I’m The Underdog Against Fulton; All Fuel To Flame

The unbeaten Albuquerque native overwhelmed Tramaine Williams with his persistent pressure and body punching to win their 12-round, 122-pound title bout by unanimous decision five months ago. Leo left the ring that night with the previously unclaimed WBO junior featherweight title and became the first opponent to defeat Williams (19-1, 6 KOs, 1 NC).

The 26-year-old Leo (21-0, 9 KOs) still is a slight underdog entering his first title defense against Stephen Fulton on January 23 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Philadelphia’s Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs) was supposed to battle Leo on August 1 at Mohegan Sun Arena, but Fulton tested positive for COVID-19 on July 29 and Williams replaced him on three days’ notice.

“I have a lot to prove,” Leo said during a virtual press conference. “This is just the beginning for me. I have a lot of doubters that are doubting me. I’m the underdog, so it’s just all fuel to the flame.”

Leo overcame a slow start versus Williams, took complete control of their bout by the middle rounds and won by huge margins on all three scorecards (118-110, 118-110, 117-111). Leo’s win was particularly impressive because he trained to face a right-handed fighter in Fulton and Williams is a southpaw.

“I definitely had to make some adjustments,” Leo said. “I was a little disappointed because, you know, all leading up to the fight, you know, we prepared for a righty. And then, three days before the fight we got a monkey wrench in Tramaine Williams. And he is a southpaw, so you know, we had to make a few adjustments. But, you know, like a true champion, you can always adapt, and I adjusted. I did what I had to do. You know, when I’m in shape like that, there was nothing that was gonna stop me. And that night, I was gonna become world champion.”

Defeating Fulton, who is also 26, would help legitimize Leo as a world champion because the skillful Fulton has scored victories over seven unbeaten boxers in the past 5½ years. Nevertheless, Leo will enter their “Showtime Championship Boxing” main event with more confidence than he had before beating Williams.

“Being champion is what I always wanted to be, so now that I’ve got it, I’ve got the confidence,” Leo said. “But I don’t take my foot off the gas just because I’m champion. They say that once you’re champion, it’s harder. It’s harder because now, as bad as you want it, now everybody else wants it just as bad as you do. But my mentality is the same, you know. I’m world champion and I’m gunning for more world champions. So, I’m not the hunted. I’m still hunting.”

Showtime’s three-bout broadcast January 23 also will include a 12-round battle between Raesse Aleem (17-0, 10 KOs), of Muskegon, Michigan, and Vic Pasillas (16-0, 9 KOs), of Redwood City, California, for the WBA interim super bantamweight championship. The telecast will begin with another 12-rounder in which Las Vegas’ Rolando Romero (12-0, 10 KOs) will defend his WBA interim lightweight title against Houston’s Justin Pauldo (14-1, 7 KOs).

[Ruthless-RKO]

Weights

Leo stepped on the scale at 121.4 pounds.
Fulton officially weighed 122 pounds.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anyone watching this card? Will be over then switch over to the UFC.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Date: Saturday, Jan. 23 | Start Time: 9:00 pm ET
Location: Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT
TV: Showtime

Full Card (SHO, 9:00 pm ET)

Angelo Leo (20-0, 9 KO) vs Stephen Fulton Jr (18-0, 8 KO), junior featherweights, 12 rounds, for Leo’s WBO title

Ra’eese Aleem (17-0, 11 KO) vs Victor Pasillas (16-0, 9 KO), junior featherweights, 12 rounds

Rolando Romero (12-0, 10 KO) vs Avery Sparrow (10-2, 3 KO), lightweights, 12 rounds

[handsofstone]

Good fight this, fancy Fulton for the points win although ive never seen Leo tbf, Fulton can box though

[dickbelden]

ALEEM KO 11 !

[Ruthless-RKO]

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[Best Coast]

Good win for Fulton. Now let's see Fulton vs Aleem!!

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[AntonioMartin]

I had Fulton by 116-112 but the 119-109 were a bit too wide in his favor I think...

This fight joins Ayala-Tapia, Gomez-Pintor, Ali-Frazier I and III, Pryor-Arguello I and II, Chacon-Limon, Barrera-Morales I, Corrales-Castillo 1, Duran-Leonard I and the Gatti-Ward trilogy as one of the best I've seen, however..

[Ruthless-RKO]

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[margaret thatcher]

I had Fulton by 116-112 but the 119-109 were a bit too wide in his favor I think...

This fight joins Ayala-Tapia, Gomez-Pintor, Ali-Frazier I and III, Pryor-Arguello I and II, Chacon-Limon, Barrera-Morales I, Corrales-Castillo 1, Duran-Leonard I and the Gatti-Ward trilogy as one of the best I've seen, however..

lol really? nowhere near enough drama or close enough to be up there for me

at least add each guy hitting the canvas or something

[BROZO]

I had Fulton by 116-112 but the 119-109 were a bit too wide in his favor I think...

This fight joins Ayala-Tapia, Gomez-Pintor, Ali-Frazier I and III, Pryor-Arguello I and II, Chacon-Limon, Barrera-Morales I, Corrales-Castillo 1, Duran-Leonard I and the Gatti-Ward trilogy as one of the best I've seen, however..

Difference in this fight is, There was never ever a chance of a knockdown or knockout just a bunch of pitty pat punching. I find these type of fights boring.

[AntonioMartin]

When did Showtime boxing cards start looking like something you'd see on Fox Sports?

Worse yet..ESPN or the USA Network...

[margaret thatcher]

agree, i mean wasnt a bad fight, but it was same thing over and over without any big moments or drama etc. wasnt close either.