Stephen Fulton has fought practically everyone at 122 pounds. From the hot shot prospect to former, and at the time, current world champions. Whether their records were pristine or tattered with losses, Fulton went out and dominated. Not for a single second has the newly turned 29-year-old been viewed as the underdog. That, however, has recently changed.
Naoya Inoue has been praised as a generational talent, a one-of-a-kind fighter, a freak of an athlete – or – in layman’s terms, essentially the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) walks around like a fighter that knows how good he is. He’s flatlined nearly every opponent he’s come across and has picked up titles in three separate weight classes. By and large, Inoue is widely expected to do the same to Fulton.
Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) hasn’t conducted a ton of media interviews as of late, instead choosing to focus solely on training. He has, nevertheless, heard the adulation that’s been hurled in the direction of Inoue. He’s also paid close attention to the slander.
The unified super bantamweight champ isn’t annoyed by the words he hears. Actually, he’s amused by it.
“When you’re the underdog, you’re like overlooked,” Fulton told Top Rank Boxing. “I’ve seen and heard a lot of things that people are saying about the power and he may not have a chin. Inoue is this and he’s that. I like that.”
Heading to Japan could place Fulton in a hirsute situation but the unified star couldn’t think of a better way to prove that he’s the better fighter. For now, Fulton will keep his lips zipped as Inoue’s supporters continue to doubt him. Once the dust is settled after July 25th, Fulton firmly believes that he’ll have an even bigger fanbase.
“They don’t believe in me. Let’s make em believers.”