It is not often that Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue 24-0 (21) has found himself in the position of challenger in his 11 year pro career, and with good reason.
The 30-year-old Japanese superstar has held version of the world title across three divisions every since his second year in the punch-for-pay ranks. Since then the only time he has been the designated challenger is when he has moved up in weight.
The last time that happened was when he faced IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in May 2019. Inoue walked through the Puerto Rican champion in two rounds, claiming the first of four recognised world titles at the weight to become the undisputed champion at 118-pounds.
On Saturday night at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, he will make the first step in a similar journey when he takes on WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen ‘Cool Boy’ Fulton 21-0 (8). Victory will see him become just the second Japanese boxer behind Kazuto Ioka to claim world title in four separate weight classes, but his level of dominance could well see history regard him as the better of the two.
The winner of the Fulton-Inoue bout will also be regarded by many fans, pundits and media outlets at the number one boxer pound-for-pound on the planet.
In other words, no pressure.
“I haven’t been a challenger in five years and that has heightened my motivation as well. I think I will be able to perform better than before,” Inoue said at the pre-fight press conference.
“Coming up to junior featherweight to be able to challenge Stephen Fulton for the title has given me great motivation.
“I get excited thinking about this fight and about how I will perform. I’ve been watching film of Fulton and I think he is a very intelligent fighter.
“I think he is a very composed and accomplished boxer.”
Philadelphia’s Fulton, 29, is of course no pushover. He has a reputation for bowling over undefeated fighters and victory over Inoue will mean that half of his wins will have been against boxer who had never previously tasted defeat.
Always lowkey, he sees this as his breakout fight.
“I keep to myself and I do my thing,” Fulton told The Ring. “My training went great. I feel great. I would say I have 10-percent of people in boxing that believe in me.
“This is my fourth champion in a row I’ll be facing. I love challenges. My whole life has been a challenge.
“Inoue is smaller than me, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’m way smaller than (Brandon) Figueroa and look what I did to him (to win the WBC title). I know I don’t get any respect, or not the respect that I know I deserve.”
