ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – Jaron Ennis doesn’t see Stephen Fulton’s fight against Naoya Inoue the same way as oddsmakers and those that consider Inoue indestructible.
Ennis, a friend of Fulton’s from Philadelphia, is certain that the unbeaten WBC/WBO 122-pound champion is built to shine in this career-defining fight. That’s why Ennis won’t be the least bit surprised if Fulton defeats Inoue in the favored knockout artist’s home country July 25 (ESPN+).
“I feel like that’s not even gonna be an upset,” Ennis told BoxingScene.com. “To me, in my eyes, ‘Scooter’ [Fulton] is the favorite. But I think ‘Scooter’ gonna do his thing. And I feel like they underestimatin’ ‘Scooter.’ I feel like it’s gonna be easier than what people think it’s gonna be. I feel like ‘Scooter’ gonna be too big, too strong. And one thing about ‘Scooter,’ no matter what’s goin’ on, he always find a way to win. And I think ‘Scooter’ either gonna get a unanimous decision or a late stoppage.”
Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) is listed by most sportsbooks as more than a 3-1 favorite to win their 12-round fight at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The three-division champion, who became boxing’s undisputed 118-pound champion by knocking out England’s Paul Butler (34-3, 15 KOs) in the 11th round of his last fight, will make his debut at the 122-pound limit when he faces Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs).
The taller, rangier Fulton has boxed at or near the junior featherweight limit of 122 pounds throughout his eight-year pro career. Fulton, 28, could’ve accepted a rematch with rival Brandon Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs), but he demanded a showdown with Inoue in the Japanese superstar’s homeland.
“You know, ‘Scooter’ is hungry,” Ennis said. “He always gonna go get it. You know, he gonna find a way to bring his belts back home and be victorious.”
Ennis expects Fulton to receive the credit that the IBF interim welterweight champion contends Fulton already deserves by beating Inoue.
“I feel like that’s definitely a great win for Philadelphia,” said Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs, 1 NC), who knocked out Roiman Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) in the 10th round July 8 at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Theater. “And after ‘Scooter’ beat him, they definitely have to put ‘Scooter’ number one. Because some pound-for-pound lists, they got Inoue number one. So, after ‘Scooter’ beat him, they gotta make ‘Scooter’ number one pound-for-pound, or at least put him in the top five, top three.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.