Monster Inoue Blows Away Stephen Fulton to Win His Fourth World Title
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Tokyo, Japan (July 26th, 2023)– Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue is a four division world champion. Inoue, 25-0 with 22 knockouts, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, decked Stephen Fulton, now 21-1 with eight knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, twice in the eighth round, finishing him in a corner, to win the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organisation World Super Bantamweight titles, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Japan.
Despite being smaller than Fulton, Inoue worked his jab to perfection, forcing Fulton to remain on the defensive throughout the bout. Inoue punched holes through Fulton’s defense anyway, continuously nailing him with pinpoint body shots to the solar plexus. Inoue continued to walk Fulton down, and pressure Fulton with rapid fire counters.
Fulton’s stance standing in front of Inoue was too wide. A left to the body followed by a right to the chin wobbled Fulton in round eight, followed by an Inoue left to the face which took Fulton down to the canvas. Fulton got up, and was immediately under attack from Inoue and did not punch back. Inoue landed a left-right, left-right, left-right six punch combination which sent Inoue to the canvas in a corner for good at 1:14 of round eight, forcing referee Hector Afu to end the contest. Inoue, in effect, blew away an established world champion.
Ten of Fulton’s opponents combined for a total pro record of 101 wins and four draws at the time he fought them, including Inoue. As an undefeated four division world champion, ‘Monster’ Inoue appears game enough to fight anybody.
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