Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue round by round fight reports
Photo Credit: Naoki Fukuda
All the results live from Tokyo as WBC and WBO super-bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) defends his honours to Naoya “Monster” Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) today, Tuesday, July 25 at the Ariake Arena in Japan.
U.S.: ESPN+ 4:30am ET / 1:30am PT
UK: Sky Sports 9:30am
Fight #1
Yoshiki Takei vs Ronnie Baldonado
8×3 Junior Featherweight
Takei gets a left hand in, Baldonado lands a right hand back but soon gets trapped on the ropes as Takei tees off on him. Fairly tepid first round, a little bit of action, but not lots.
Baldonado opened round two with a big right hand, starting at a higher pace. Takei walking him down but the right hand is threatening all the time. Big shots fly in from both boxers, it's a little messy at times, the pair coming together heavily. Baldonado backed into the corner constantly not allowing himself any room to manoeuvre. Baldonado countered well with some clean shots, but spent the entire round retreating.
A backhand to the body had a delayed effect on Baldonado, falling to the floor seconds later. Takei flicked a right jab upstairs and landed a left hook that rippled its way across the ribs, painfully. That's seven wins and seven KOs for the 27-year-old southpaw from Tokyo.
Fight #2
Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
8×3 Light Flyweight
Both boxers were sharp on their jabs and light on their feet in the first rounds. Sakama was coming forward while Horikawa was jabbing and moving.
Sakama landed some big backhands in the second, really finding his groove. Looking good on the backfoot too, when Horikawa tried to force him back momentarily.
The mouthpiece of Horikawa was dislodged in the third. Big bodyshot from Sakama but Horikawa took it well.
Horikawa just trying to keep Sakama at bay. Midway in the fourth, Sakama landed a swift, stinging backhand bodyshot. Horikawa keeping the fight at close range in the final minute, making it tricky for Sakama to work. Then Horikawa dances away and steps in to land a flurry before the bell. Sakama in control but Horikawa using all his ring experience here.
Sakama closing the space in round five, Horikawa comes forward at times to keep him off. Horikawa gets through with a straight right hand. Then Horikawa goes back on his jab, doubling up. Good left hand catches Horikawa out after they broke. Horikawa tries a overhand right, but Sakama catches it on his gloves completely. Then it's Horikawa's turn to catch Sakama out after a break. Sakama gets a nice body shot in on the klaxons. Horikawa just so sneaky on that backfoot but three consecutive uppercuts landed that round by Sakama.
Right hook to the body followed be left jab to the head from Sakama. It's a close contest, the heavier shots thudded in from Sakama, but Horikawa equally scoring. Sakama waiting too long to throw in that sixth stanza. He was closing the gap down, but when he had Horikawa backed into the ropes, he dodn't let his hands go quick enough and his opponent is able to throw his shots and escape.
They go toe to toe in the opening minute of the seventh. Strong jab lands from Sakama after an exchange. They continue to square off, really great back and forth action, the crowd are loving this! Sakama seems the more tired of the two, perhaps that's why he isn't throwing as much. Big right hand rocks Horikawa's head to the side, but takes it well. Really exciting round.
Horikawa bleeding from the nose by the eighth. This final round could be the decider. Sakama lands a strong jab to start with. But then a one-two from Horikawa snaps Sakama's head back. Then Horikawa lands another right hand. Horikawa is livelier and busier. Good body shot from Sakama. It gets a little messy then a big right hand hurts Horikawa and Sakama sprints around the ring chasing after him. Horikawa buys some time but purposely spitting out hus gumshield then another big right gets through and then a grazing left hook to the temple and the referee stops the fight with 10 seconds to go! Horikawa was just so hurt and running away from trouble constantly. After the fight ends, Horikawa goes down to the canvas and stays there to recover. He's back on his feet smiling not long later. Horikawa made such a good contest of it and just couldn't escape the pressure piled on in the final round.
20-year-old Tokyo man Sakama wins the Japanese Youth light-flyweight title and moves up to 8-0 with 7KOs.
Co-Feature
Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu
12×3 WBO Featherweight World Title
First round is a scouting mission for the patient champion, who let his hands go much more in round two.
By round four, Ramirez was so accurate and able to pick out big power shots in close. Shimizu's long levers not giving him the advantage in this fight they really should. Shimizu trapped on the ropes as Robeisy fires off punch after punch but the challenger escapes. A tall southpaw with height and reach advantages should be keeping this fight long, but Robeisy is firing off good work in close.
It's all over in the fifth round at 1:08 as 37-year-old Shimizu is stopped by the referee. Ramirez landed a crunching left uppercut to send the Japanese fighter to the canvas. Then a further barrage of potent left and right hooks went unanswered. Robeisy moved up to 13-1 with 8KO. Shimizu dropped to 11-2, 10KO.
Main Event
Stephen Fulton Jr. vs Naoya Inoue
12×3 WBO & WBC Junior Featherweight World Titles
The unbeaten super-bantams begin exchanging jabs from range but it's Inoue who starts to edge in closer letting bigger shots go. Fulton staying out of range utilising a sharp jab. The champion gambles on a lead right hand but misses widely. Inoue was the aggressor risking the bigger shots. There was only one clinch during the opener.
Fulton has a wide stance, Inoue really waking him down in the second. He lets a four punch combination go in the first minute. Fulton tries four punches but doesn't land once, Inoue so light on his feet and reactive. Inoue able to land two big rights in the corner, but mostly caught on gloves. They clinch just once again in that round, on the klaxons.
Inoue jabs to the body then swipes with the left hook upstairs in the third. Inoue lands a one-two a minute in. Fulton changing levels, lands jab to the bidy to set up the right up top. Fulton starts to go for the body to, throwing a backhand as he edge forward. The American not taking a back step in this round. The pair fighting at long range as Fulton holds his feet to be more aggressive and effective. Inoue scoring shots but not landing cleanly although blood has appeared from the nose of Fulton so something is getting through.
They exchange jabs at the start of the fourth, then Inoue leans in with a big backhand. Fulton comes forward with a big right hand, trying to be more positive. Two jabs to the body from Inoue. They each look like they've found their rhythm now. They clinch with 30 seconds to go. Much more exchanges in this round as the contest really starts to ebb and flow.
Inoue loading up in the fifth then gets caught with a flush one-two from Fulton while his hands were low and his chin was high. Inoue's jab hardly failing to land everytime he throws. Inoue catches Fulton on rope, reels off four shots, but the elusive American is soon gone again.
Triple jab from Inoue to kick off round six. Right hand from Fulton. Inoue close to countering a Fulton jab with a big right hand but was a whisker away. Three punch combo from Inoue looks impressive. Then he is able to land some bigs hook as they fight in close range. Both boxers looser and taking more risks in the sixth stanza, fighting in mid to close range now. There's an exciting flow to the fight now.
Inoue still jabbing to body and head. Fulton reaches forward just grazing Inoue with a one-two. Fulton keeping the distance between them a little more in the seventh. Then he gets through with a big straight right on Inoue's left ear after double jabs landed on Inoue's guard to distract from the one coming around the side. Probably Fulton's best punch of the fight so far, looked painful. Combination catches Fulton on the ropes but he's not hanging around for long. Inoue gets a left hook to the body on waistband, Fulton complains it's low. Inoue lands three left hands. Fantastic round, both fighters having success.
101 punches landed from Inoue after seven rounds, just 46 to Fulton, currently outlanded by double.
Big right hand sends Fulton down in round eight. Inoue jabbed to the body then landed a chopping right hand to the American's chin, who touched down with his gloves but stayed standing until the Monstar leaped in with a left hook to send him down porperly. Fulton up against it as Inoue relentlessly punches non-stop to finish the fight, not letting the moment of weakness pass for the champion and referee Hector Afu rightfully steps in while the American is trapped in his home corner after around half a dozen unanswered punches. The fight is all over at 1:14 of the eighth round and Inoue becomes a four-weight world champion and is now 25-0. The Monster was just too hot for the Cool Boy, and the questions surrounding the fight about whether Inoue could carry his power up to super-bantamweight has been emphatically answered.
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