Whereas there have been loads of huge fights on the boxing calendar in 2023, together with Saturday’s conflict between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship, Tuesday morning sees a real battle fan’s “huge battle” when high pound-for-pound fighter Naoya Inoue strikes as much as tremendous bantamweight to tackle WBC and WBO champion Stephen Fulton in Tokyo.
Inoue has been one of many sport’s finest and most dominant fighters for years. After profitable the WBC title at 108 kilos in simply his sixth battle, Inoue went as much as 115 kilos two fights later and received the WBO title. After seven profitable title defenses, it was clear Inoue was a particular fighter with elite stopping potential, scoring TKOs in 14 of his first 16 profession fights.
After transferring to bantamweight, Inoue took lower than two minutes to cease Jamie McDonnell in his debut within the division to safe the WBA’s secondary title and lock in a spot within the World Boxing Tremendous Collection event.
Inoue scored fast knockouts of Juan Carlos Payano and Emmanuel Rodríguez earlier than profitable a unanimous choice over Nonito Donaire in 2019’s Combat of the 12 months to take the event title in addition to the IBF and WBA titles, persevering with his rise as one of many sport’s elite abilities.
The massive stoppages continued as Inoue defended his titles 3 times earlier than a second-round stoppage of Donaire of their rematch to seize the WBC championship. He adopted that win up with a blitzing of Paul Butler to seize the WBO title and declare undisputed standing.
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“Coming as much as junior featherweight to have the ability to problem Stephen Fulton for the title has given me nice motivation,” Inoue mentioned on the last press convention. “I get excited desirous about this battle and about how I’ll carry out. I have been watching movie of Fulton, and I believe he’s a really clever fighter.
“I have never been a challenger in 5 years, and that has heightened my motivation as properly. I believe I will carry out higher than earlier than.”
In Fulton, Inoue faces a harmful take a look at. Fulton is “Philly fighter” to the core, a well-schooled technician who has additionally proven a willingness to chew down on his mouthpiece and go toe-to-toe with foes desirous to slug it out.
In contrast to Inoue, Fulton was not fast-tracked to a title shot. Fulton didn’t really battle for a world title till the nineteenth battle of his profession when he defeated Angelo Leo in January 2021 to win the WBO tremendous bantamweight title.
The defining battle of Fulton’s profession up to now would come later that 12 months when he confronted off with Brandon Figueroa. For 12 rounds, Fulton and Figueroa traded punches in wild exchanges in a battle that received CBS Sports activities’ Combat of the 12 months vote. Fulton in the end received a majority choice and added the WBC title to his assortment.
After beating Daniel Roman by one-sided unanimous choice, Fulton was prepared for a legacy-defining battle in opposition to Inoue. Whereas Inoue takes the danger of transferring up in weight for Tuesday’s conflict, Fulton will journey throughout the Pacific ocean to face Inoue in his native Japan.
That is the type of battle boxing wants extra of, two younger fighters on the peak of their powers, each taking actual threat looking for greatness.
The undercard sees one other title battle as Cuban Robeisy Ramirez defends his WBO featherweight crown in opposition to Satoshi Shimizu. Ramirez, 29, received a pair of gold medals in 2012 and 2016 at flyweight and bantamweight, respectively. He has continued to point out that dominant talent as a professional after dropping his skilled debut. He is received 12 in a row, together with a gritty win over Isaac Dogboe in April to say the vacant title.
“I do not know a lot about my opponent, however as I’ve mentioned since this battle was offered to me, everyone knows that Japanese fighters are warriors,” Ramirez mentioned. “I hope he’s prepared as a result of I’m coming at one hundred pc.
“That is my first protection, and it is at all times tremendous vital for any champion. That is the following step on my technique to changing into the perfect featherweight on this planet. I’ll be me and have enjoyable, the Robeisy that everybody is aware of contained in the ring.”
The undercard additionally encompasses a pair of eight-round contests with fighters from Japan and the Philippines. Kanamu Sakama and Ryu Horikawa are set to satisfy in a junior flyweight contest whereas Yoshiki Takei vs. Ronnie Baldonado will throw down in a junior featherweight tilt.
Let’s check out the televised card with the most recent odds from Caesars Sportsbook earlier than attending to a prediction and professional choose on the principle occasion.
Fulton vs. Inoue battle card, odds
Odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook
Favourite Underdog Weight class Naoya Inoue -400 Stephen Fulton (c) +310 WBO and WBC tremendous bantamweight titles Robeisy Ramirez (c) -3000 Satoshi Shimizu +1300 WBO featherweight title
Fulton vs. Inoue viewing info
Date: July 25 | Begin time: 4:30 a.m. ET (important occasion ringwalks round 8 a.m.)
Location: Ariake Area — Tokyo, Japan
TV channel: ESPN+
Prediction
To start with, the percentages listed below are out of line with actuality. Sure, Inoue is a superb fighter, arguably the perfect pound-for-pound expertise within the sport. However Fulton is just too good to be a +320 underdog. Inoue has proven a powerful potential to have his energy observe him up by way of three weight courses in his profession and Tuesday will present whether or not he can take it to a fourth. It’s usually true that fighters do hit a weight the place their energy is now not as impactful, however we merely do not know if 122 kilos is that spot for Inoue.
Fulton is artful, robust and technically gifted. Inoue is an offensive whirlwind with underrated defensive abilities. Each males possess excessive battle IQ and intangible qualities like grit and coronary heart. It is a really unbelievable battle on paper.
Inoue has confronted higher opposition in his profession, a results of preventing in world title bouts quickly after turning skilled. Fulton’s stiffest assessments have come solely in the latest years. Assuming Inoue’s energy does journey up in any respect, he deserves an edge within the battle. Fulton will not be a fighter with a lot stopping energy, having solely scored eight knockouts in his 21-fight unbeaten profession. He has the abilities to achieve exchanges however must land crisp pictures whereas avoiding getting hit clear by Inoue’s bombs.
It is unlikely Fulton can maintain Inoue from touchdown cleanly pretty regularly and the impression of Inoue’s pictures would be the deciding think about a aggressive contest. Decide: Inoue by way of UD
Who wins Inoue vs. Fulton, and the way precisely does the battle finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks and evaluation from the incomparable professional who was up greater than $6,200 for $100 bettors in 2022, and discover out.