Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Latest boxing fight updates and results
Re-live updates from the super-bantamweight title fight in Tokyo
Pound-for-pound phenom Naoya Inoue took apart Stephen Fulton in Tokyo today, becoming a four-weight world champion in the process.
Japanese superstar Inoue – a former light-flyweight champion and unified title holder at super-flyweight – achieved undisputed status at bantamweight in 2022, before vacating those titles to set up this clash with Fulton. The American, 29, carried the WBC and WBO super-bantamweight titles into the Ariake Arena on Tuesday, as well as an unbeaten record (21-0, 8 knockouts).
But Fulton lost all of those accolades as he was beaten to nearly every punch by Inoue, 30, in their main-event clash, which ended in Round 8 after the Japanese dropped the champion with a brutal left hook. Although Fulton beat the referee’s count, he was soon overwhelmed by Inoue, who forced the referee to step in and wave off the fight.
Re-live updates and results from Inoue vs Fulton and the undercard fights, below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Inoue stops American in Round 8
A reminder that Inoue had never fought at this high a weight before today... and he did this to a (now former) unified champion...
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Jab to the gut, right cross upstairs, left hook as Fulton stumbles away... Brutal ending to the fight.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Light-flyweight champion, unified super-flyweight champion, undisputed bantamweight champion...
Now? Unified super-bantamweight champion.
Who can beat Naoya Inoue?
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Inoue stays unbeaten while handing Fulton a first pro loss. In the process, the Japanese takes the American’s WBC and WBO super-bantamweight belts.
Inoue, 30, is a FOUR-WEIGHT world champion...
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Round 8
Inoue with a clean jab to the body. Fulton nods in acknowledgement.
OH!!! Inoue hurts Fulton with a right, then drops the champion with a huge left hook as he retreats!!
Inoue climbs the turnbuckle to celebrate, but Fulton beats the count...
The action quickly resumes, and Inoue simply overwhelms Fulton with hooks to the head and body. The champion covers up in the corner, his legs start to give away, he’s slumping...
AND IT’S WAVED OFF! That was so clinical from Inoue. As soon as he hurt Fulton, he went for the finish and got it.
1:14 of Round 8.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Round 7
Fulton is having more success with his right hand. There may be a little swelling around Inoue’s left eye as a result.
Inoue isn’t happy with Fulton growing into this fight, so he gets after the champion with a combination, backing Fulton up to the ropes.
A hard right overhand lands for Inoue, but Fulton eats it. The American snaps back Inoue’s head with a piercing jab.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Round 6
Inoue catches Fulton on the end of a jab, then might have just grazed him with a right hook.
Now he steps in with a short left hook! He follows up with a right cross.
Fulton looks to arrest the momentum, blitzing Inoue with mixed success.
Fulton with some pawing jabs, then a hard left hook to the body. He avoids a wild right hook from the Japanese.
The American lands a right cross as he’s tagged by a hook late in the round.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Round 5
Inoue has officially out-thrown and out-landed Fulton through four rounds.
One-two, hook, left hand from the challenger. Fulton switches stances, then back, and lands a clean one-two!
HARD right cross by Inoue! Fulton with one of his own! This is getting fun...
Two more straight shots connect for Fulton. Decent counter jab by Inoue as the champion steps into range.
Now Inoue jabs low.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Round 4
Inoue makes an aggressive start to this round, coming forward and using his right hand more often than he did at this point in the last frame.
Fulton just about catches Inoue on the end of a right cross, then blocks a one-two and a hook.
Inoue jabs to the body. Same again. And *again*. A one-two misses for Fulton, who is punished by a hook in close.
Every time Fulton sets his feet, he’s tagged before he can react. Inoue is favouring straight shots to get to the American at the moment.
Now an uppercut!
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Main event
Round 3
Fulton’s jab is countered by a right cross from Inoue. Ridiculously quick head movement by Inoue to slip a jab.
And again. Now the home fighter blocks a one-two, before jabbing to the body. Inoue definitely looks the more comfortable fighter in there.
Fulton seems wary of committing to his entries. Inoue has shown he is the faster fighter, and there’s little in it power-wise, even though Inoue is making a debut in this higher weight class.
More jabs from Inoue. He adds a right hand to the ribs, though Fulton partially blocks.
Inoue continues to score with jabs, and Fulton is bleeding slightly around his nose and mouth.
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