By: Sean Crose
He received world titles in three weight courses. He knocked out nearly ninety p.c of his opponents. He’s unquestionably among the best pound for pound fighters on the planet. And he is about to tackle maybe the hardest problem of his profession. Naoya Inoue, at simply thirty years previous, leads a sacred profession on his personal. Since his first skilled battle, in 2012, Inoue, often known as “The Monster”, has appeared singularly decided to defeat all who stand earlier than him. After twenty-four fights, he nonetheless hasn’t failed. American Stephen Fulton, nevertheless, goals to vary all that when he and Inoue face off subsequent week at Ariake Area in Inoue’s dwelling nation of Japan.
Like Inoue, American Stephen Fulton has but to lose a single battle. A product of Philadelphia’s well-known boxing neighborhood, the twenty-nine-year-old Fulton boasts a slick, flowing ring model, which some say could frustrate Inoue and probably even knock the lauded multi-title roster out of his sport. Once more, Fulton is taken into account by some to be Inoue’s hardest opponent. Contemplating the truth that Inoue beat future Corridor of Famer Nonito Donaire, that basically means one thing. But questions may also comply with Fulton within the ring that night time.
For instance, what’s going to occur if or when the person will get caught? As sneaky as he’s within the ring, it is exhausting to think about Fulton combating with out taking a headshot at the very least pretty cleanly sooner or later. It is a twelve-round title battle, in spite of everything. Plus, how will combating so removed from dwelling influence Fulton on battle night time? Fulton could have traveled in his profession, however Tokyo is a far cry from Philadelphia. Lastly, what if Inoue is ready to work the physique on this brutal manner that solely Inoue can appear to do? Lesser males fell to items underneath such searing attachment.
Nonetheless, it is Inoue who’s the challenger right here. Fulton, in the end, is the one to slide between the ropes with the WBC and WBO tremendous bantamweight titles in his possession subsequent week. Inoue stands out as the native favourite when he and Fulton reply the bell on the twenty fifth, however Fulton would be the belt holder. A minimum of so long as the battle lasts, that’s. Possibly even longer. You simply cannot inform in terms of boxing. The one actual certainty in terms of this battle is that each males will carry their A-Video games to the ring with them.
