The road to undisputed is typically a long and winding one.
Nobody know that better than Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue.
The undefeated Japanese superstar took four years to collect the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF hardware at bantamweight after successful title reigns as WBC junior flyweight and WBO super flyweight champion.
After his super bantamweight debut on Tuesday night, he looks to be on the fast track to collecting all the belt in his new division.
Inoue 25-0 (22) was at his explosive best in his first fight at 122-pounds, dismantling and destroying highly regarded WBC and WBO champion Stephen ‘Cool Boy’ Fulton 21-1 (8) in eight brutal rounds.
The fight was supposed to be a test, on paper at least. Fulton had made a name for himself beating previously undefeated fighters and victory over Inoue would have been the 11th name added to this list.
It was not to be. Inoue boxed early before bouncing Fulton around the ring and eventually to the canvas twice in the eighth to force the referee’s stoppage at the 1:14 mark.
It was as dominant a performance as you would expect from a boxer firmly entrenched in the top three of most reputable pound-for-pound lists.
Fulton, of course, was no mug. His victories over Angelo Leo, Brandon Figueroa and Daniel Roman in world title contests saw him elevated to the number one position in The Ring’s ratings at 122-pounds.
The 29-year-old Philly fighter is an exceptional fighter. Unfortunately for him, he ran into a once in a generation talent.
“Everything I was thinking about was to fight him this year,” Inoue said. “However, unfortunately, I got injured and I had to postpone this fight. I am sorry to my team and Fulton’s team, but thank you so much for accepting this fight once again. I am so happy right now.”
At 30, Inoue still appears in his physical prime and has shown no signs of slowing down. His immediate career ambitions are clear: to face WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion Marlon ‘Nightmare’ Tapales 37-3 (19) of the Philippines before the end of the year.
Tapales upset Murodjon Akhmadaliev 11-1 (8) to claim the belts by split decision in his last outing in April this year.
“I believe I was able to show my increased speed and power in this bout,” said Inoue. “But I still have room to improve, so I’ll get stronger as a super bantam.”
That spells bad news for 31-year-old Filipino southpaw Tapales, who was ringside for the Fulton bout.
“I want to fight Naoya Inoue. I want to prove to myself that I’m a champion,” Tapales said.
And that sits just fine with Inoue.
“I want to be undisputed champion by the end of the year,” said Inoue to Top Rank Boxing.
“That’s something I really want to do.”
