Stephen Fulton vs. Naoya Inoue | ESPN - July 25, 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

[joshj909]

Right or wrong. He looks like he's admitted to it. Interesting to see how many opponents are willing to go to Japan after this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Right or wrong. He looks like he's admitted to it. Interesting to see how many opponents are willing to go to Japan after this.

He has fought outside of Japan too.

[SendoTakeshi]

Right or wrong. He looks like he's admitted to it. Interesting to see how many opponents are willing to go to Japan after this.

Adimitted what, following the rules?
He is knocking boxers out in japan, the UK and the US. The result is always the same, let's not discredit someone for shit like that.

[Thomastearns]

I'll never understand how someone can predict a fight to end in a SD. You either think he is going to win or not.

This will be a tough fight for Inoue but I'm hoping Duke has underestimated the importance of the fact that this fight is taking place in Japan.

As far as I'm aware Fulton has never fought outside the USA before.

Why would it be that important?

Agree. if your predicting split decision predict a draw instead. you should only be predicting your card, not a combo of 3 random peoples cards....

Home advantage can be a whole load more than just favourable treatment by referee and judges.

There's also the support of the home crowd and familiarity of the fight locale.

On the downside some fighters might also feel additional pressure of expectations, whilst others might thrive on it.

I'm pretty sure in Inoue's case he won't be fazed by pressure. He's fully aware he's coming into this fight as the challenger and won't be taking Fulton lightly.

"I haven't been a challenger in five years, and that has heightened my motivation as well. I think I will be able to perform better than before," he said at the pre-fight press conference.

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... -challenge

[joshj909]

Right or wrong. He looks like he's admitted to it. Interesting to see how many opponents are willing to go to Japan after this.

Adimitted what, following the rules?
He is knocking boxers out in japan, the UK and the US. The result is always the same, let's not discredit someone for shit like that.

Admitted to what he was accused of. I said 'right or wrong'. I did not say it was wrong. Fulton clearly thinks it's wrong, other boxers would as well. However, it is allowed. Where did I discredit him?

[Evander]

It's a tough call this one, I have had a good look at them and I'm sure it's not going to be easy for either boxer. But I'm going against the majority and take Stephen Fulton to pull it off in Japan.
Looking forward to this one and hope it's a good fight.

[AngryGoon38]

I Really Hope that this bout will wind up being A Thrilling Memorable Scrap.

I'm leaning towards it being more disappointment than anything else though.

Hopefully this negative internal intuition of mine is Wrong.

Inoue will Have to get close and Stay Close.

Brawl Brawl Brawl, and Brawl some more, and Keep on Brawling.

Inoue will Really Have to just forget about defensive fundamentals because this will be essentially playing Fulton's game, and
Inoue "Cannot Cannot" Do That !!

He's going to have to continuously bore in and keep cutting off the ring. And have Zero Concern about getting hit alot and outlanded.
Watch videos of Barrera-Hamed would be my own personal advice to Inoue.

This is the Only way that he can Win this particular bout.
He's gotta go in there with that Very certain specific go ballistic mindset.
Keep fighting like Fulton cannot hurt him.

[Evander]

It could come down to two things.
Fulton ... takes too long to adapt to the styles and gives up rounds.
Inoue ... can't establish a mid to long range style that's effective.

[Evander]

I have to get up at 1.00 Am Tuesday morning potentially through to 6.00 Am to watch this fight.
Who scheduled this for Tuesday ?
I'll have eggs on toast by the main event.

[Cent0089]

In terms of weight, i think Inoue should stop here, even if he win this. Fulton is seems to be much bigger

[Ruthless-RKO]

I have to get up at 1.00 Am Tuesday morning potentially through to 6.00 Am to watch this fight.
Who scheduled this for Tuesday ?
I'll have eggs on toast by the main event.

Thursday

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!

[gregregegg]

I have to get up at 1.00 Am Tuesday morning potentially through to 6.00 Am to watch this fight.
Who scheduled this for Tuesday ?
I'll have eggs on toast by the main event.

Thursday

no Tuesday isnt it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I have to get up at 1.00 Am Tuesday morning potentially through to 6.00 Am to watch this fight.
Who scheduled this for Tuesday ?
I'll have eggs on toast by the main event.

Thursday

no Tuesday isnt it.

Sorry, Tuesday it is!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Stats and Stakes

Stephen Fulton

Age: 29
Title: WBO Jr. Featherweight (2021-Present, 2 Defenses); WBC Super Bantamweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’6 ½
Weight: 122 lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Record: 21-0, 8 KO
Press Rankings: #1 (TBRB, Ring, ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 3-0
Last Five Opponents: 102-3-3 (.958)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Angelo Leo UD12, Brandon Figueroa MD12; Daniel Roman UD12
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Paulus Ambunda UD12

vs.

Naoya Inoue

Age: 30
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBC light flyweight (2014, 1 Defense); WBO Jr. bantamweight (2014-18, 7 defenses); Lineal/TBRB World Bantamweight (2021-23, 1 Defense); Ring Magazine/IBF Bantamweight (2019-23, 6 Defenses); WBA Bantamweight (2019-23, 5 Defenses*); WBO Bantamweight (2022-23)
Height: 5’5
Weight: 121 ¾ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Record: 24-0, 21 KO
Press Rankings: #1 at 118 lbs. (ESPN, BoxRec)
Record in Major Title Fights: 17-0, 15 KO (19-0, 17 KO including sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 139-13-1 (.912)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Ryoichi Taguchi UD10; Adrian Hernandez TKO6; Omar Narvaez KO2; Kohei Kono TKO6; Jamie McDonnell TKO1; Juan Carlos Payano KO1; Emanuel Rodriguez KO2; Nonito Donaire UD12, TKO2; Jason Moloney KO7; Paul Butler KO11
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None

*Also won and defended a WBA sub-title at bantamweight in 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

How to watch Fulton vs Inoue

United States

The fights will stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S., which you can get for $9.99/month or an annual $99.99/year as a standalone subscription.

Elsewhere
United Kingdom and Ireland: Sky Sports
Japan: Lemino
Canada: TSN+
Australia: Kayo

[Ruthless-RKO]

[SendoTakeshi]

I have to get up at 1.00 Am Tuesday morning potentially through to 6.00 Am to watch this fight.
Who scheduled this for Tuesday ?
I'll have eggs on toast by the main event.

If I remember correctly those big venues in japan are always booked out for months on weekends.
That's why Inoues fights are usually during the week.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- This one of the biggest fights in the lower weight classes to be had in modern boxing, but instead of pursuing greatness, Fulton looks to be already blowing this golden opportunity with infantile handwrap accusations in advance with no evidence, indeed nary even a rumor until now.

Be clear: Whatever advantages of Japanese handwraps have for Inoue, will also be conferred to Fulton who ain't much acting like a Cool Boy, but rather a blowing his cool boy armed with a ready excuse for losing when he enters the ring.

Officiating is as international as it can get with judges and ref, ie Canada’s Richard Blouin, Italy’s Guido Cavalleri and Spain’s Manuel Palomo the judges, Panama’s Hector Afu the referee.

[TheLeprechaun]

Surely we all agree that doing the Margarito handwraps cannot be allowed occur.

[Finkel]

Surely we all agree that doing the Margarito handwraps cannot be allowed occur.

How are you suggesting margaritto's hands were wrapped? And what relevance does it have to Inoue?

[Finkel]

Right or wrong. He looks like he's admitted to it. Interesting to see how many opponents are willing to go to Japan after this.

Adimitted what, following the rules?
He is knocking boxers out in japan, the UK and the US. The result is always the same, let's not discredit someone for shit like that.

Admitted to what he was accused of. I said 'right or wrong'. I did not say it was wrong. Fulton clearly thinks it's wrong, other boxers would as well. However, it is allowed. Where did I discredit him?

In a more detailed quote I have read,
Inoue's position was he has fought 24 times as a professional following the rules wherever he has been.
He basically called Fulton's coach "naive", which in Japan basically means child-like and lacking real experience.

There is no admission to anything but following the rules, and that the accusations are those of a child acting out on the world stage.

[Thomastearns]

Adimitted what, following the rules?
He is knocking boxers out in japan, the UK and the US. The result is always the same, let's not discredit someone for shit like that.

Admitted to what he was accused of. I said 'right or wrong'. I did not say it was wrong. Fulton clearly thinks it's wrong, other boxers would as well. However, it is allowed. Where did I discredit him?

In a more detailed quote I have read,
Inoue's position was he has fought 24 times as a professional following the rules wherever he has been.
He basically called Fulton's coach "naive", which in Japan basically means child-like and lacking real experience.

There is no admission to anything but following the rules, and that the accusations are those of a child acting out on the world stage.

Yes, it's a bad show by the Fulton camp, unless of course it's just a mindgames ploy on their part.

The fact that Inoue's reacted suggests they've certainly got his attention by casting doubts over his integrity.

For sheer naivety from the corner though, you'd have travel some to beat the uselessness of Mike Tyson's corner post Rooney.

[TheLeprechaun]

A simple "I have never stacked gloves and won't do it as is the rules and I expect the same from my opponents" would make this a non issue. At the moment it's unclear if he's been stacking. I'm sure it won't happen in this fight anyway thanks to publicity. I hope it hasnt happened and is a publicity stunt by Fulton but it screams of the pac needle excuses at the moment.