
No ifs or buts! Japanese Naoya Inoue officially announced that he will challenge the American Stephen Fulton, WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion, Sunday, May 7 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, in what will be his debut in this division.
Inoue became the first world champion to unify the bantamweight division since 1972, when he defeated England’s Paul Butler in December to add the WBO title to his WBC, WBA and IBF belts.
Inoue was a former world champion in the light flyweight and super flyweight divisions.
Inoue, 29, who has a record of 24 wins with 21 knockouts, vacated his titles and gave up his titles to ambitiously and ravenously seek the super bantamweight crown.
“All I can do is believe in myself to continue to be successful,” Inoue insisted concerning this “Weight of Responsibility.”
Fulton, 28, is also undefeated with 21 wins with 8 knockouts and is one of the very best fighters around today.
The super bantamweight champion’s most recent bout was a unanimous decision victory against compatriot Daniel Roman in June 2022. Fulton decalared:
“Inoue is a great fighter, but I’m not worried about fighting him. I’ve beaten some really good guys and I have no problem going to Japan to fight. I really like challenges, so I’m going to really enjoy this fight.” Fulton also made his intention crystal clear in a video that was shown at the conference.
Naoya Inoue (center), Japanese professional boxer attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on March 6, 2023. Inoue is set to challenge Stephen Fulton of the US for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles on May 7 in Yokohama, Japan. Stephen Fulton on the big screen. (Photo by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi/AFLO)
Naoya Inoue, Japanese professional boxer attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on March 6, 2023. Inoue is set to challenge Stephen Fulton of the US for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles on May 7 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi/AFLO)
Naoya Inoue, Japanese professional boxer attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on March 6, 2023. Inoue is set to challenge Stephen Fulton of the US for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles on May 7 in Yokohama, Japan. Ohashi boxing gym chairman Hideyuki Ohashi is right. NTT Docomo senior vice president Yoshiaki Maeda is left. (Photo by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi/AFLO)
Naoya Inoue, Japanese professional boxer attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on March 6, 2023. Inoue is set to challenge Stephen Fulton of the US for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles on May 7 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi/AFLO)
Naoya Inoue, Japanese professional boxer attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on March 6, 2023. Inoue is set to challenge Stephen Fulton of the US for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles on May 7 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi/AFLO)
Photo by Hiroaki Finito Yamaguchi
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