Boxing fans, strap yourselves in. We have an absolute ripper of a fight coming out of Japan on Tuesday evening (Tuesday morning EST) between WBO and WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Stephen Fulton and three-weight world champion Naoya Inoue. With both fighters undefeated and a classic clash between skill and power, as Inoue steps up a weight grade, this is an unmissable fight.
For both fighters, this is the biggest challenge in their careers so far. Stephen Fulton is a seasoned super bantamweight boxer but has never fought anyone of Naoya Inoue’s caliber. Conversely, Inoue is a generational talent but has the unenviable challenge of moving up a weighted grade to face an undefeated champion.
With a raucous Japanese crowd behind him, can Inoue add another feather to his cap by plundering Fulton’s belts? Or will the American put Inoue in his place and show him who’s the boss of the super bantamweight division? Read on for all our Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue predictions based on the latest Fulton vs Inoue odds.
| ℹ️ Weight Class/Division: | Super bantamweight, 12 rounds (WBO and WBC titles) |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan |
| 🗓️ Date: | July 25th, 2023 |
| ⏰ Time: | from 8:00 AM EST |
Of course, the ‘Coll Boy’ and the ‘Monster’ have never met as professionals before. In fact, due to their different weight grades, they have never even boxed a mutual opponent, either.
To paint a picture of how the Japanese boxing bookies are seeing this fight, here’s a look at the outright Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue betting odds:
Home fighter Naoya Inoue is a strong favorite, despite not being the current belt holder. Paying 1.28 (2/7) to win, Inoue is well ahead of Stephen Fulton, who sits at 3.75 (11/4). In terms of method of victory, bookies have the Fulton vs Inoue odds at 1.80 (4/5) for an Inoue knockout, followed by 3.25 (9/4) for an Inoue decision, and 5.50 (9/2) for a Fulton decision.
Stephen Fulton has been in strong form recently, with an overall record of 21-0-0 and eight knockouts. His past two fights have been impressive wins, defeating Danny Roman by unanimous decision and Brandon Figueroa by majority decision. This will be his first fight in over a year, however, with his Roman clash occurring in June 2022.
Fulton is an out-and-out super bantamweight and has a big frame for the division. As a result, size will be one of his big advantages over Inoue, who is fighting at this level for the first time. Add to this the American’s natural movement and skill, and there are certainly areas where the ‘Cool Boy’ can get the upper hand on his opponent. It all looks like a repeat of the Taylor vs Lopez fight, where the division newcomer will be aiming to go the distance and won’t be rushing things.
As you’d expect from an unbeaten boxer, Naoya Inoue is also in fine form heading into this clash. The Japanese fighter has recently defeated Paul Butler and Nonito Donaire by way of knockout, adding to his record of 24-0-0 with 21 knockouts and proving the ‘Monster’ nickname. Inoue is also yet to fight in 2023, with both his most recent clashes occurring in 2022.
It’s all power, baby. Anyone who has seen Naoya Inoue grace a boxing ring will know that the 30-year-old possesses devastating power. Only three times has an opponent managed to go the distance with him, with Inoue holding a ruthless 87.5% knockout rate. He doesn’t need to be perfect all fight; it only takes a few seconds for Inoue to finish things.
Enough preamble – let’s get into making money off these boxing betting odds. Here is our top Fulton vs Inoue betting tips ahead of Wednesday night’s fight:
Fight Not to Go the Distance @ 1.73 (8/11)
1 (100%)
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If you’re looking for some Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue tips that are slightly more conservative versions, then our suggestion is simply backing this one to end early. Fulton is by no means a knockout artist, with a finish rate below 50%, but there’s a chance that if Inoue opens up and gets desperate towards the end, the Japanese fighter will be vulnerable to some big blows by Fulton. For the slightly smaller return, it’s a worthy bet to cover all bases.
Naoya Inoue to Win Rounds 7-12 @ 3.50 (5/2)
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(100%) 1
For a higher return, we say that betting on some grouped rounds is the way to go. Inoue will take his time to feel out Fulton, getting accustomed to his opponent’s size and movement. Fulton is no mug and should have the skill to go toe-to-toe with Inoue for at least the first half of the fight. If either boxer is to win by knockout, it’s most likely to be deeper in the fight once a bit of fatigue sets in. With a healthy return of 3.50 (5/2), this is a great bet to make.
Two excellent fighters step into the ring on Wednesday night in Tokyo, but one will leave with a blemish on their record. It will be a fascinating contest, but we say that Naoya Inoue will give his home crowd something to cheer about with a late knockout over current WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Stephen Fulton. You are free to use our free boxing predictions and tips for this fight to catch the bookies in a suitable position.
