TOKYO (July 25, 2023) – That’s a wrap.

Naoya Inoue, the pound-for-pound nice from Japan, knocked out WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton within the eighth spherical Tuesday at Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan. Inoue is now a four-weight world champion and is 20-0 in world title fights.

“Every thing I used to be interested by was to combat him this yr,” Inoue mentioned. “Nevertheless, sadly, I acquired injured, and I needed to postpone this combat. I’m sorry to my workforce and Fulton’s workforce, however thanks a lot for accepting this combat as soon as once more. I’m so joyful proper now.”

Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) stored Fulton at bay within the opening spherical, peppering the Philadelphia native with a stinging jab. Quickly sufficient, Fulton (21-1, 8 KOs) was in retreat mode, and Inoue marched ahead. Fulton stored his guard excessive as Inoue winged left hooks and proper arms. Within the seventh spherical, Fulton had small pockets of success, however Inoue got here out in spherical eight intent on blunting his momentum.

Inoue knocked down Fulton with a right-left mixture, and when Fulton rose to his toes, “The Monster” went in for the end. With Fulton pinned in opposition to the ropes, Inoue unleashed a blistering mixture, punctuated by a fight-finishing left hook.