Naoya Inoue, the unbeaten Japanese boxing star known as the Monster, bolstered his claim as the world’s best fighter regardless of weight on Tuesday when he laid waste to Stephen Fulton to capture the WBC and WBO junior featherweight titles, becoming a world champion in a fourth division.
Inoue (25-0, 22 KO) dominated from the opening bell at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, showing off his unique cocktail of power, speed and footwork and outclassing the taller, longer champion from Philadelphia over seven one-sided rounds before dropping him early in the eighth. Fulton, an elite operator who had been regarded as the top dog at 122lbs since winning his both of his belts during a banner 2021 campaign, was able to beat the count but was soon brought to heel under a hail of blows, prompting referee Hector Afu to intervene at the 1:14 mark.
