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: Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu
We’ve had a fair wait for this one to start. Stay tuned, the ring walks should begin shortly.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu
Prior to his professional career, Ramirez took home gold for Cuba at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu
Ramirez
Record: 12-1, 7 KOs
Age: 29
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 5ft 6in
Reach: 68in
Nation: Cuba
Shimizu
Record: 11-1, 10 KOs
Age: 37
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 5ft 11in
Reach: 71 & 1/2 in
Nation: Japan
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu
Next up is the co-main event...
Robeisy Ramirez defends the WBO featherweight title against Satoshi Shimizu!
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
That was a great fight. Sakama stays unbeaten at 8-0, with his seventh stoppage win.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
Round 8
Final round! Horikawa has come on strong in the last few rounds. Has he done / can he do enough to snatch a win?
He catches Sakama on the end of a cross early in the round. Now a short right hand! Another long one!
Sakama sneaks in a left uppercut at close range. Both men step back then throw jabs, with Sakama having greater success.
Sakama with a great spell here! He hurts Horikawa with a left hook to the body, then another, and another! He holds Sakama, then out comes his mouthguard – some wily thinking to buy time...
It’s back in, the fight resumes, and Sakama pours on the pressure again! Horikawa takes a knee, but a knockdown isn’t ruled!
Back under way, and Sakama is still swarming Horikawa with right straights and uppercuts... and the referee steps in with 10 seconds left!! Horikawa slumps to the mat!
It seemed a slightly early stoppage – very late in the fight – but Horikawa’s physical reaction shows it was the right call!
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
Round 7
Penultimate round. Sakama tries to reassert himself, marching down Horikawa.
Both men land punches in the pocket. Horikawa is the more accurate fighter right now! Sakama looks a little laboured as he misses with a few shots.
An overhand right breaks through Sakama’s guard.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
Round 6
Horikawa gets on the front foot at last, burying a left hook into the mid-section of Sakama, then clubbing him to the head!
This is better, more aggressive stuff from Horikawa.
Nice straight shots from Horikawa now, as he leaps forward and tags Sakama twice in quick succession.
Sakama misses with a wild overhand right. He backs up Horikawa, who pushes him away and then lands an overhand right of his own!
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
Round 5
Sakama continues to stalk Horikawa, who is increasingly loading up on his counters in a bid to deter his opponent.
Good jabs from Horikawa now, also intended to fend off Sakama, who is unfazed.
Forward Sakama comes, with some more nice uppercuts. A great left hand catches Horikawa as he’s stepping out of the pocket.
Horikawa with a body uppercut now, though, and a flush right hand to the head! Great work.
Inoue vs Fulton LIVE: Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa
Round 4
Into the fourth round of eight. Sakama backs up Horikawa to the ropes and flicks out a series of jabs.
Horikawa sneaks a right hand around Sakama’s guard, jolting back his head. Sakama replies with a body shot, and Horikawa holds.
The pair separate, and Sakama hides a harsh left hook behind a few light, straight shots! Lovely work.
Sakama is starting to turn the screw here, mixing in some hooks and uppercuts. Wherever Horikawa goes, Sakama follows him.
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