Stephen Fulton has fully embraced his newfound road warrior role.
The unified WBC/WBO junior featherweight titlist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has felt at home the moment he arrived in Japan on July 11. He will be in the country for two full weeks by the opening bell sounds for his blockbuster showdown versus former three-division champ Naoya Inoue on July 25 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
“I don’t feel different. I feel normal,” Fulton said when meeting with the Japanese press during a recent media day. “I feel completely normal. It’s not my first time out of the country. I’ve competed outside the U.S. in the amateurs and as a semi-pro. It’s just the first time as a professional.”
Fulton (21-0, 8KOs) fights out of the U.S. for the first time as a pro and will attempt his third overall title defense of at least one title.
His reign dates back to his January 2021 win over then-unbeaten WBO junior featherweight titleholder Angelo Leo. The undefeated titlist—who turned 29 on Monday—then edged Brandon Figueroa via majority decision in their November 2021 WBC/WBO unification bout in Las Vegas. Their terrific twelve-round battle was recognized by BoxingScene.com and select outlets as the 2021 Fight of the Year.
Just one fight came in his 2022 campaign, a lopsided points victory over former WBA/IBF 122-pound titlist Danny Roman last June 4 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two fights were on Fulton’s radar after that—a full unification versus then-unbeaten WBA/IBF titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev, or a showdown with Yokohama’s Inoue (24-0, 21KOs).
The latter transpired soon after Inoue abandoned his undisputed bantamweight throne in January, exactly one month after he fully unified the division in a December 13 knockout win over Paul Butler.
Fulton and Inoue didn’t waste any time to secure a deal once they entered negotiations earlier this year. Fulton was fine with hitting the road for what will represent by far his best payday, along with the toughest test of his already stellar career. He is currently viewed as a +265 underdog by bet 365 sportsbook, who lists Inoue as a -360 favorite to become a four-division champion.
The visiting American is as unbothered about the odds as he is about fighting in front of what will be a partisan—but always respectable crowd to support Inoue.
“I’m not shy. I’m not nervous,” insisted Fulton. “I really feel normal. I like to embrace it. I like to embrace the people where I’m at so I don’t feel nervous.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox