Stephen Fulton has shared his thoughts on Naoya Inoue after their fight in July 2023. The former WBC and WBO super-bantamweight champion faced Inoue in a 122lbs bout that ended with Inoue winning by TKO in the eighth round.
Fulton, who entered the fight with a perfect 21-0 record, spoke about Inoue's power and its impact on the match outcome.
"The power when I was sitting there and catching it wasn't like boom, the shots that I was catching and seeing you just feel the pressure from it. It was a shot that I didn't see that came and did it."
Fulton's words highlight Inoue's ability to land unexpected powerful shots, which proved to be the deciding factor in their encounter.
Since that fight, Inoue has continued to dominate the 122lbs division. He became the undisputed champion by defeating Marlon Tapales and has successfully defended his titles against Luis Nery and TJ Doheny.
When asked about Inoue's standing in the boxing world, Fulton didn't hold back his praise.
"He is top two. One or two. He's at the top of the world."
The former champion's high regard for Inoue places him at the pinnacle of pound-for-pound rankings in boxing.
Inoue's fight with Fulton marked his first at 122lbs after becoming undisputed champion in the bantamweight division. The Japanese fighter's success across multiple weight classes has cemented his reputation as one of boxing's elite.
Looking ahead, Inoue will defend his undisputed super-bantamweight titles on December 24 against Sam Goodman. This upcoming bout will give fans another chance to see if Inoue can live up to the high praise from former opponents like Fulton.
Fulton's full interview, where he shares more insights about his fight with Inoue, can be found on YouTube.
