By Robert Segal: Undefeated Naoya “Monster” Inoue will try and win his fourth division world title in opposition to WBC and WBO tremendous bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton on Tuesday, July 25 at Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan.
It is an attention-grabbing distinction of kinds, as Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) is a pure boxer who takes on knockout artist Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) of their headliner.
The Inoue-Fulton card will air reside beginning at 4:30 a.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. PT on ESPN+.
The early morning airtime means many American boxing followers will not see the occasion, because it takes place in the course of the week quite than the weekend.
It is not sensible for many boxing followers in america, which could clarify why High Rank hasn’t put a lot effort into selling it.
Within the chief assist bout, WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) defends in opposition to Satoshi Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs).
Robeisy is a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, and he was rapidly moved by High Rank, and it paid off as he gained a world title in his fourth yr as knowledgeable.
Inoue = predatory machine
“It is a generational expertise. We’re speaking a couple of man who, when all is alleged and finished, we’re speaking perhaps he is an all-time nice,” Joe Tessitore advised High Rank Boxing of Naoya Inoue. “He jogs my memory of a fighter jet. A fighter jet loaded with homing missiles.
What if Inoue cannot knock out Fulton?
Inoue’s concentrate on making an attempt to knock opponents out on a regular basis on the expense of growing his boxing abilities and dealing on his stamina would possibly come again to hang-out him, maybe on this combat in opposition to Fulton.
We all know that finally Inoue will discover somebody he cannot destroy so simply, and he would possibly discover himself taking a lesson from technical grasp Fulton on July 25.
“He has precision; he has velocity; he has energy. It’s a navy grade weapon. He’s flawless offensively. He is powerful, powerful as nails,” Tessitor stated. “He’s relentless. July 25 is undeniably one of many greatest fights, if not the largest combat, of 2023 in boxing with Monster in opposition to ‘Cool Boy’ Steph.
“122 lbs unified world champion and two guys at their absolute peak.”
“Inoue is the closest factor to a pure predatory machine you will have in boxing,” Mark Kriegel stated.
We noticed Inoue wrestle in his first combat with Nonito Donaire when he could not knock him out, and we noticed him visibly pissed off in opposition to David Carmona.
It is good that Inoue is a knockout machine, however what if he cannot knock out a proficient man like Fulton? Can Naoya maintain on to win once more?
“Inoue can flip off your lights in half a second,” stated Andre Ward. “What makes this combat compelling for each guys is that they’re each undefeated.
“You’ve a former undisputed champion in Inoue, who’s gaining weight, difficult himself once more, explosive and does not know the way to lose.”
Not understanding the way to lose means Inoue has by no means been examined, and he would possibly discover out the onerous manner what it means to be in a battle in opposition to somebody who has a better IQ and is aware of the way to dodge his distinctive hits.
Can Inoue field if he cannot rating a knockout? We might discover out subsequent Tuesday. If Inoue stubbornly continues to hunt to cease Fulton, he would possibly remorse it.
“Then you will have a fighter like Stephen Fulton from West Philly, who not solely brings that toughness to Philly, however he is an important boxer,” Ward stated. “These guys haven’t any drawback pitting it in opposition to one another, and that is uncommon lately.
“Fulton and Inoue exemplify the way in which of the warrior. Not the keyboard warrior that’s so widespread lately,” stated Bernardo Osuna. “These guys name one another up and make the fights occur.
Naoya: “I do not want a tune-up”
“Whenever you speak about elite fighters, Naoya Inoue is trying to grow to be a 4 division champion. He does not come as much as check the waters at 122. He says, “Who’s the large canine over there?” Let me go get them,” Osuna stated.
Is Inoue’s determination to not check the waters first at 122 earlier than difficult Fulton for his titles a first-rate instance of a fighter gone cocky?
In wartime, you need to examine the territory first earlier than attacking. Inoue skips this half and rushes straight forward with a dangerous angle. It is reckless.
“At this level, coming as much as tremendous bantamweight, I truthfully thought I did not want a tune-up,” Inoue stated. “I really feel like after unifying all 4 titles, holding them, after which defending them, I felt like an undisputed champion.”
That is what this author is speaking about. Inoue is so used to success that he’s careless, believing he can win like he at all times has, seeing his opponents as the identical. Is not {that a} traditional instance of somebody drunk on their very own success?
“However there was already discuss of preventing Fulton instantly,” Inoue stated. “So I used to be already trying forward. From there, it is going to be an actual problem. That is my fifth weight class, so I am pushing the bounds of my limits and my construct. Even I do not know the way it will prove.
“It is not as straightforward as folks say, ‘Tremendous bantam’, ‘Featherweight’, I do not underestimate him. However I need to reside as much as folks’s expectations. I am cautious and that is what I am up in opposition to,” Inoue stated.
Inoue underestimates Fulton however is blind to what he’s doing. He clearly lacks self-awareness and stumbles straight forward, pondering this combat can be a breeze for him.
“Going out in Japan and rising to the second and defeating it in your nation. That is main,” Fulton stated.
