WBC / WBO world champion in the second bantamweight division (up to 55.3 kg) Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) and still the absolute champion of the weight category up to 53.5 kg Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) are negotiating a fight in the spring in Japan. Writes about it
ESPN with reference to sources.
Fulton, 28, against Inoue, 29, is one of the best fights boxing has to offer as of early 2023.
The American is represented by Premier Boxing Champions Al Haymon, the Japanese by Top Rank Bob Arum (outside Japan) and Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions. Arum, by the way, believes that Fulton will not cope with Naoya.
Fulton Inoue is unimpressed: “Take a hit from him – what’s left?”
In the early summer of 2022, Fulton declassed Daniel Roman without any problems and has not entered the ring since then.
In December, the Japanese knocked out Paul Butler in the 11th round, adding his WBO belt to his WBC, WBA and IBF titles.