WBC Special Preview: Fulton vs. Inoue
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship
July 25, 2023 / Tokyo, Japan / Ariake Arena
OHASHI PROMOTIONS and TGB PROMOTIONS PRESENT:
STEPHEN “Cool Boy Steph” FULTON JR. (USA)
WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion, 2nd Title Defense
Age: 27 / Date of birth: July 17, 1994
Residence, birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Record: 21-0, 8 KOs / Total rounds: 143 / World championship fights: 3-0, 0 KOs
Height: 5’6.5” – 169cm / Reach: 70.5” – 179cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Al Haymon / Trainer: Wahid Raheem
NAOYA “Monster” INOUE (Japan)
Ranked WBC No. 1 at Super Bantamweight
Former WBC Light Flyweight & Bantamweight World Champion
Former Super Flyweight Champion
Age: 30 / Date of birth: April 10, 1993
Residence: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan / Birthplace: Zama, Kanagawa, Japan
Record: 24-0, 21 KOs / Total rounds: 138 / World championship fights: 19-0, 17 KOs
Height: 5’5” – 165cm / Reach: 67.5” – 171cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Sayuri Ohashi / Trainer: Shingo Inoue
WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Rigoberto Riasco (Pan) 1976
2. Royal Kobayashi (Jap) 1976
3. Dong-Kyun Yum (Kor) 1976 – 1977
4. Wilfredo Gomez (P. Rico) 1977 – 1982
5. Jaime Garza (US) 1983 – 1984
6. Juan Meza (US) 1984 – 1985
7. Lupe Pintor (Mex) 1985 – 1986
8. Samart Payakaroon (Thai) 1986 – 1987
9. Jeff Fenech (Aust) 1987 – 1988
10. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) 1988 – 1990
11. Paul Banke (US) 1990
12. Pedro Decima (Arg) 1990 – 1991
13. Kiyoshi Hatanaka (Jap) 1991
14. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) * 1991 – 1992
15. Thierry Jacob (Fra) 1992
16. Tracy Patterson (US) 1992 – 1994
17. Hector Acero-Sanchez (D.R.) 1994 – 1995
18. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) * 1995 – 1997
19. Erik Morales (Mex) 1997 – 2000
20. Willie Jorrin (US) 2000 – 2002
21. Oscar Larios (Mex) 2002 – 2005
22. Israel Vazquez (Mex) 2005 – 2007
23. Rafael Marquez (Mexico) 2007
24. Israel Vazquez (Mexico) * 2007 – 2008
25. Toshiaki Nishioka (Japan) 2008 – 2012
26. Abner Mares (Mexico) 2012 – 2013
27. Victor Terrazas (Mexico) 2013
28. Leo Santa Cruz (Mexico) 2013 – 2015
29. Julio Ceja (Mexico) 2015 – 2016
30. Hugo Ruiz (Mexico) 2016
31. Hozumi Hasegawa 2016
32. Rey Vargas (Mexico) 2017 – 2020
33. Tomoki Kameda (Japan) Interim 2018
34. Luis Nery (Mexico) 2020 – 2021
35. Brandon Figueroa (US) 2021
36. Stephen Fulton Jr. (US) 2021 –
* Regained title
WBC TOP 10 SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
1. Wilfredo Gomez (Puerto Rico)
2. Erik Morales (Mexico)
3. Jeff Fenech (Australia)
4. Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico)
5. Israel Vazquez (Mexico)
6. Abner Mares (Mexico)
7. Leo Santa Cruz (Mexico)
8. Tracy Patterson (US)
9. Oscar Larios (Mexico)
10. Royal Kobayashi (Japan)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY:
33 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only two have regained the title: Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico) two times, Israel Vazquez (Mexico).
116 WBC super bantamweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.
Wilfredo Gomez (Puerto Rico) holds the record for super bantamweight world title defenses with 17.
Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico) made 14 title defenses in three periods as champion.
Oscar Larios (Mexico) made 10 title defenses.
MEMORABLE WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
June 4, 2022 Stephen Fulton Jr. W12 Danny Roman – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov. 27, 2021 Stephen Fulton Jr. W12 Brandon Figueroa – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 15, 2021 Brandon Figueroa KO7 Luis Nery – Carson, California
Sep. 26, 2020 Luis Nery W12 Aaron Alameda – Uncasville, Connecticut
Feb. 25, 2017 Rey Vargas W12 Gavin McDonnell – Hull, England
Sep. 16, 2016 Hozumi Hasegawa TKO9 Hugo Ruiz – Osaka, Japan
Feb. 27, 2016 Hugo Ruiz TKO1 Julio Ceja – Anaheim, California
Aug. 29, 2015 Julio Ceja TKO5 Hugo Ruiz – Los Angeles, California
Aug. 24, 2013 Leo Santa Cruz KO3 Victor Terrazas – Carson, California
Nov. 10, 2012 Abner Mares W12 Anselmo Moreno – Los Angeles, California
May 23, 2009 Toshiaki Nishioka TKO3 Jhonny Gonzalez – Monterrey, Mexico
Mar. 1, 2008 Israel Vazquez W12 Rafael Marquez – Carson, California
Aug. 4, 2007 Israel Vazquez TKO6 Rafael Marquez – Hidalgo, Texas
Mar. 3, 2007 Rafael Marquez TKO7 Israel Vazquez – Carson, California
Dec. 3, 2005 Israel Vazquez TKO3 Oscar Larios – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 17, 2002 Oscar Larios TKO12 Israel Vazquez – Sacramento, California
Feb. 19, 2000 Erik Morales W12 Marco Antonio Barrera – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 6, 1996 Erik Morales KO11 Daniel Zaragoza – El Paso, Texas
Nov. 6, 1995 Daniel Zaragoza W12 Hector Acero-Sanchez – Inglewood, California
Aug. 26, 1994 Hector Acero-Sanchez W12 Tracy Harris Patterson – Atlantic City
June 23, 1992 Tracy Harris Patterson TKO2 Thierry Jacob – Albany, New York
Mar. 20, 1992 Thierry Jacob W12 Daniel Zaragoza – Calais, France
Feb. 29, 1988 Daniel Zaragoza TKO10 Carlos Zarate – Inglewood, California
May 8, 1987 Jeff Fenech KO4 Samart Payakaroon – Sydney, Australia
Jan. 18, 1986 Samart Payakaroon KO5 Lupe Pintor – Bangkok, Thailand
Aug. 18, 1985 Lupe Pintor W12 Juan Meza – Mexico City, Mexico
Nov. 3, 1984 Juan Meza KO1 Jaime Garza – Kingston, New York
June 15, 1983 Jaime Garza TKO2 Bobby Berna – Los Angeles, California
Dec. 3, 1982 Wilfredo Gomez TKO14 Lupe Pintor – New Orleans, Louisiana
Oct. 28, 1978 Wilfredo Gomez TKO5 Carlos Zarate – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jan. 19, 1978 Wilfredo Gomez KO3 Royal Kobayashi – Kitakyushu, Japan
Oct. 9, 1976 Royal Kobayashi KO8 Rigoberto Riasco – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 3, 1976 Rigoberto Riasco TKO9 Waruinge Nakayama – Panama City, Panama
Cool Cerberian Challenge
By James Blears
WBC and WBO super-bantamweight champion Stephen “Cool Boy Steph” Fulton, 21-0, 8 KO’s will defend his titles against Naoya “Monster” Inoue 24-0, 21 KO’s, at the Ariake Arena in Koto-Ku, Tokyo on Tuesday July 25th.
Thus far, so far, so good, as both are unbeaten going into this clash of mini-titans. Inoue is vying to become a champion in a fourth weight category, having most recently un-cluttered, swept aside and cleared out the bantamweight division, then vacating it to move up. While Fulton, who contemplated filling out, falling out and then filing out of ranks, by stepping up to featherweight, is defiantly staying put to confront “The Monster” in his own lair.
That Red Letter Day was scheduled for May 7th, but there was a postponement, as Inoue injured a fist in sparring. He announced this, but was coy about which one. He’s previously injured his right hand.
Fulton who has never professionally fought outside the United States until now, arrived in the Land of The Rising Sun beaming, confident and ready to impart pearls of wisdom to scribes, as the impending typhoon which is most certainly heading his way, gathers strength, accumulating storm clouds, as he braces for impact. To have made this trip, “Cool Boy Steph,” is obviously confident and I dare say he’s getting well paid. Smiles, squalls and scowls?
A Herculean task confronts him. The diminutive but great Willie Pep, who lost his fortune to: “Slow horses and fast women,” once muttered that if Sugar Ray Robinson was pound for pound the greatest, then he was definitely the ounce for ounce finest. Inoue who’s the wizard of oz is actually both! The only ever Japanese fighter to be considered and revered as such.
Subduing monstrous Cerberus, the Hound of Hades, guarding the Underworld was the twelfth and most demanding of Hercules’ Labors. Cerberus’ armory was awesomely impressive. Three snapping heads, a tail of a serpent and venomous snakes protruding from his body. The mythical grand daddy of junkyard dogs. Hades the Overlord of the Underworld commanded that Hercules combat Cerberus without vulcanized shield or weapon of iron. So, Hercules covered himself with the tough hide of a lion skin and used a club to batter his three headed canine opponent into submission. To win he had to dig deep and go to hell and back. Using his lead, he unleashed combinations and finally chained the monster.
In this almost biblical battle, fresh faced Inoue is as smooth as Jacob, while Fulton is as facially hairy as Esau. That’s a tangible, tactile fact. But unlike fraternal twins, their genesis is different.
Samson…another Biblical figure derived his strength from his hair follicles. Fulton’s whiskers which are luxuriantly bushy, will certainly be tested by still baby-faced, Inoue who’s aged thirty, while Fulton is still twenty-eight.
Back in 2014, in this sixth fight, Inoue TKO’d KO artist Adrian “Confessor” Hernandez in the sixth, to win the WBC light flyweight title. The charge accelerated to super-flyweight heights, where he clobbered WBO champion Omar Andres Narvaez. After seven successful defenses, he stopped Jamie McDonnell to win the WBA bantamweight belt and halted Emmanuel Rodriguez for the IBF version. Then on to Legendary Nonito Donaire to win the WBA belt. It was 2019 fight of the year, all wrapped up in the Final of the World Boxing Super Series with the Muhammad Ali trophy as the glittering prize.
Inoue is a complete fighter. Genius strategist, no Achilles heel flaws with nifty footwork, high ring IQ, awesome body puncher, dizzying headhunter, blessed with laser like Goldfinger hands, which often culminate in “An Operation Grand Slam.” On the minus side he has been known to put those hands behind his back or drop his gloved fists, defiantly daring an opponent to: “Take your best shot.” A cunningly laid snare/ trap, or rather brimming overconfident bravado?
He’s occasionally vulnerable to a left hook, and that’s exactly what crafty veteran Donaire landed on him flush in a flash, during round two, in their first encounter. It simultaneously broke Inoue’s nose and right orbital bone. Inoue was seeing double from then on for the rest of the evening. But like all greats faced with fractured adversity, he gritted his teeth, biting down hard on his mouthguard and he almost stopped the “Filipino Flash” with a trademark monstrous left hook to the liver in the eleventh round.
Inoue is a quick learner. In the eagerly awaited and keenly anticipated rematch, an anticlimax, as he dropped Donaire in the first and stopped him with a bevy of cluster bombs in the second to seize the WBC Green and Gold Belt.
It took him eleven rounds to KO WBO champion Paul Butler and complete the matching set. Butler occasionally proffered a smattering of effective left hooks yet was slowly but surely drained by a constant unremitting battering barrage body attack, which leavened the “Breadbasket.” The bell to summon the end of the round didn’t ring. During the remains of the day, Butler said it’s Inoue’s ruthless, lightning, pinpoint speed which proves so devastatingly effective, and so excruciatingly difficult to defend against, because it takes you by surprise like a sucker punch.
Yet Inoue’s forthcoming opponent is no slouch! Fulton who turned pro in 2014, two years after Inoue, beat five undefeated fighters in his first dozen bouts. A master of defense as well as handy on offense, he defeated Angelo Leo to win the WBO super-bantam title. Ten months later, his hardest test under fire so far, when he defeated WBC champion Brandon “Heartbreaker” Figueroa by MD.
Ferocious Figueroa launched a nonstop onslaught, but Fulton seldom allowed the stream of punches to become a deluge. He kept his cool, spearing Figueroa with uppercuts, counter punches and some well -timed right hooks. He also proved his broad backed strength in the frequent clinches and slew of close quarter brawling. Inoue, who is just as intense and is also a pressure fighter, will exert and inflict a very different sort of attack. He isn’t a mauler, rather he’s a headhunter and a body snatcher utilizing chilling marksmanship accuracy.
As with all fighters who’ve started slight and light, it remains to be seen how far up the register Inoue can fight, before he will alight, and the scales will finally tip against him. At five feet five inches tall he’s but an inch shorter than Fulton who with a wingspan of seventy and a half inches, outreaches him by three and a half inches.
Inoue has built a formidable eighty eight percent KO ratio, seventeen of the stoppages have been during world championship fights. While Fulton’s pop is a more of a prop, as his stoppages amount to a more modest 38.1 percent. The term war is liberally overused in boxing, but this one will certainly be akin to a pitched battle. The physical disparity will test Inoue, while the sheer incoming speed will exactingly challenge Fulton’s reflexes, because like the immortal Jimmy Wilde, Inoue is the proverbial: “Ghost with the hammer in his hand.”
War it will be, and as the matinee idol of the silver screen and former military bomb site surveyor Dirk Bogarde once prophetically stated: “A war finds you out!”
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