Inoue Stops Fulton In Dramatic Fashion To Become The WBC And WBO Super-Bantamweight Champion

Naoya Inoue beat Stephen Fulton to become a four-division champion, as he picked up the WBC and WBO super bantamweight belts, with an eighth-round TKO.

The Japanese was the aggressor, who dominated the fight, in a manner that was not foreseen.

Despite Fulton being the bigger and heavier man, the challenger out-jabbed the American along with explosive combinations, much to the delight of the Japanese crowd. 

Inoue controlled the pace of the fight as he landed on Fulton’s head and body to take the first two rounds.

Inoue Steps On The Gas

In comparison, Fulton resorted to a defensive position as he struggled to time his opponent, who popped in and out of range.

Blood began to pour from Fulton’s nose in the third, as the first alarm bell rang. While Fulton did score with a strong right hand, Inoue responded by exchanging in the centre of the ring. 

Fulton managed to land again with another right in the fifth round. However, the Japanese fought fire with fire.  

In the second half of the fight, Fulton’s double jab found some success. However, as Inoue increased the pace of the fight, Fulton was found wanting. And it all came to a head in the eighth round. 

Inoue landed a jab to the midsection. As Fulton lowered his hands, Inoue connected with an overhand right. As he fell backwards, Inoue unleashed a left hook. 

Once Fulton got up, however, Inoue let fly with several punches as a left to the chin forced the bout to an end. 

In the aftermath, the talk turned to an undisputed fight with the WBA and IBF champion Marlon Tapales.

Inoue’s Comments

“Last year, I became an undisputed champion. I returned all the belts and came up to super bantamweight. Everything I was thinking about was to fight [Fulton] this year. Unfortunately, I got an injury and had to postpone this fight. I’m sorry to my team but thank you so much to Fulton for accepting this fight and I’m so happy right now,” Inoue

Full Results

Naoya Inoue beat Stephen Fulton via an eight-round TKO

Kanamu Sakama beat Ryu Horikawa via an eight-round TKO

Robeisy Ramirez beat Satoshi Shimizu via a fifth-round TKO.

Chihiro Iwashita beat Hiroyuki Takahara via a fourth-round TKO

Taiga Imanaga beat Hebi Marapu via a split decision: 80-72, 75-76, 77-74

Masato Shinoda beat Yuki Kajitani via a third-round TKO

Kenta Yamakawa beat Ryosuke Nakamura via a second-round TKO

Takero Kitano beat Kenta Kawakami via a second-round TKO