Fulton vs Inoue LIVE! Boxing result, fight stream, latest updates and reaction

Fulton vs Inoue LIVE!

Naoya Inoue won one of the most highly-anticipated boxing fights of the year against Stephen Fulton in Japan on Tuesday. A rescheduled collision of two hugely accomplished and unbeaten stars was expected to produce a thrilling Fight of the Year contender, with powerful knockout artist Inoue hoping to become a four-weight world champion on home soil at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

‘The Monster’ made history by dominating Paul Butler to become the undisputed bantamweight king back in December, later vacating his belts for a move up to the 122lb ranks, where he immediately deprived American Fulton of his WBC and WBO straps. It was the latter’s very first contest outside of the USA and he was largely dominated en route to being sent down and stopped in trademark vicious fashion in the eighth round.

On the undercard, two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez successfully defended his WBO featherweight title for the first time with a dominant stoppage of Satoshi Shimizu in the co-feature event. The main show opened with Yoshiki Takei knocking out Ronnie Baldonado, before Kanamu Sakama stopped Ryu Horikawa late. Follow Fulton vs Inoue reaction live below!

Fulton vs Inoue latest updates

• Inoue stops Fulton with eighth-round barrage

• Robeisy Ramirez dominates Satoshi Shimizu

• Yoshiki Takei knocks out Ronnie Baldonado

• Kanamu Sakama beats Ryu Horikawa late

Watch: Inoue stops Fulton in trademark fashion

14:17 , George Flood

Here is that typically vicious finish from Inoue, courtesy of Sky Sports...

14:07 , George Flood

Marlon Tapales was brought into the ring after Inoue’s post-fight interview and talked up an undisputed super-bantamweight title clash later this year.

The Filipino currently holds both the WBA and IBF gold after controversially outpointing Uzbekistani champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev in San Antonio back in April.

“Let’s do this,” says a confident Inoue.

But a penny for Tapales’ thoughts after that!

He’ll be a massive underdog against Inoue, who is well on track to achieve his goal of becoming the undisputed champion of a second weight class by the end of 2023.

14:02 , George Flood

A typically classy post-fight interview with Inoue and thankfully Fulton is okay.

That’s the American’s first professional defeat, he loses his titles and drops to 21-1.

Inoue, meanwhile, is now 25-0 with 22 knockouts. So much for the toughest test of his career.

But Fulton deserves enormous credit for taking on what is undoubtedly one of the very biggest challenges in the sport today in trying to beat Inoue in his own back yard.

13:56 , George Flood

Watching the stoppage again, it was a typical stiff jab to the midriff that set up that storming overhand right from Inoue that landed flush and sent Fulton stumbling, after which he was leathered and put down by a swinging left hook.

He then had the American helpless in the corner, driving in some sickening hooks with both hands including one final left to the chin that left Fulton slumped against the ring post.

Just brutal.

Naoya Inoue stops Stephen Fulton in round eight

13:42 , George Flood

Round 8

FULTON IS DOWN IN THE EIGHTH!

A big right hand from ‘The Monster’ followed by a crushing left hook sends the champion to the canvas!

There are still two minutes left in this round and he’s in big, big trouble.

Inoue senses blood and goes for broke, battering Fulton again with some shuddering hooks off both hands in the corner and forcing the referee to step in and wave it off with the American slumped against the ring post.

IT’S ALL OVER! INOUE WINS!

A four-weight world champion and now unified at super-bantamweight, taking Fulton’s WBC and WBO belts.

An absolute superstar. The best fighter on the planet?

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:40 , George Flood

Round 7

Into the second half of this fascinating main-event contest we go.

Inoue rifles out the left jab, trying to set up that right hand and put more fast, powerful combinations together.

But he’s caught by a lovely right hook from Fulton after the double jab! His best shot of the day so far - Inoue definitely felt that, it snuck around the guard and buzzed him.

Inoue shakes it off to jab to head and body again, walking down Fulton and setting up some eye-catching flurries.

Fulton is having success with his own jab and needs to keep it working to both measure his own bigger shots and as a defensive weapon to prevent the blisteringly quick Inoue from swarming all over him.

Inoue still well on top and breaking Fulton down, round by round.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:36 , George Flood

Round 6

Fulton is being told by his corner to hold the centre of the ring and not retreat into the corners at the start of the sixth.

He’s trying to come onto the front foot and double up the jab to tee up the combos, but Inoue is so lightning fast in response.

Inoue thunders in a sharp uppercut as the tempo increases, with both men looking for some big shots from middle range.

Great action at the end of the sixth as Fulton and Inoue stand and trade furiously, with Inoue firing off from his position with his back against the ropes.

He’s enjoying himself so far - it’s certainly not looking like the toughest test of his career. A world away from the first Donaire fight, which was Inoue’s most difficult outing to date by far.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:31 , George Flood

Round 5

Inoue starts the fifth well, having success with a couple of lovely combinations, though he does then have his head rocked back for the first time as Fulton finds the target with some short, sharp shots.

But Fulton is buzzed by a stinging right from Inoue as he tries to fight fire with fire during another lively round.

Back to the jab for Inoue as he piles on the pressure, constantly switching it up still between body and head.

An artist at work. So effective and precise. His timing is just ridiculous.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:28 , George Flood

Round 4

That’s a good right hand from Fulton with two minutes left in the fourth after he tried to get his own jab working again.

He double jabs with the left to try and uncork the big right again, but it’s a fraction too slow for Inoue, who is so fast with head, feet and hands.

A good burst from Inoue with 40 seconds to go in the round, with blood again visible around the nose of Fulton.

Some decent close-range exchanges follow in the final seconds, with both men throwing and landing, Fulton then wisely keeping himself off the ropes.

An engrossing spectacle so far - those first four rounds have flown by. Inoue so strong.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:24 , George Flood

Round 3

Inoue is constantly switching up the piercing jab from head to body, looking to set up that huge right hand.

Fulton is pressing at times but he’s much too hesitant to throw, he’s a bit too static when he does and so open to counters. He’s being totally outworked and outlanded.

Some blood around the nose of Fulton now as Inoue continues to jab the night away, trying to detonate a stiff uppercut before the bell.

Inoue’s jab a ferocious weapon so far that is dictating the fight. Utter class.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:20 , George Flood

Round 2

Inoue jabbing well again at the start of the second, following it up nicely again with that searing speed and hand movement.

Fulton is on the defensive as Inoue continues to attack both head and body with those stiff jabs, trying to set up his trademark venemous attacks.

Fulton is trying to re-establish his lead jab, but he’s obviously and understandly hesitant about what might come back and twice there he’s forced into the corners, Inoue trying to unload the second time and landing some good shots.

The combination of speed, power and anticipation from ‘The Monster’ never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I see him box.

He’s absolutely on the front foot here through two, with surely both opening rounds in the bag. Very ominous already for the champion.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:15 , George Flood

Round 1

A relatively cagey start initially as both men look to tee up the strong jab, with some early success for Fulton.

Strong, quick jabs from both men continue, with the first real shot of note slamming through from Inoue.

Inoue throws a good jab to the body, follows with another long one upstairs and then utilises his speed to race forward and try to tee off.

A slip then prevents another exchange, with Inoue on the front foot as he continues to jab solidly to body and head.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:12 , George Flood

The sense of major anticipation continues to build throughout the pre-fight introductions from Jimmy Lennon Jr.

Another superb ovation for Inoue.

WE ARE UNDERWAY!

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:04 , George Flood

And here comes the champion, who I believe is using Shinsuke Nakamura’s WWE entrance theme, recorded by rapper Lil Uzi Vert.

He’s in a nice black and pink jacket with nickname ‘Cool Boy’ written across the front.

A respectful reception for Fulton, whose WBC and WBO belts are held proudly aloft.

It’s time for the national anthems, with ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ up first for the man from Philadelphia, who is fighting outside of the US for the very first time today.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

13:01 , George Flood

Here he comes!

‘The Monster’ ring-walking first in Tokyo, which feels like a bit of a novelty along with his rare status as challenger.

A great reception for the fighting pride of Japan and pound-for-pound superstar, one of boxing’s most-feared and destructive knockout artists.

After a jazzy video and plenty of sound and colour, it’s a typically understated ring walk from the composed 30-year-old, who is in a black robe with purple trim and black and white gloves.

He raises his hand to the crowd and gets a warm ovation.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

12:56 , George Flood

It’s been quite a delay between the co-main event and main event at the Ariake Arena, but we are due to get underway very shortly.

Ring walks are presumably coming at 1pm BST, which is in keeping with the sort of timings that were circulating in recent days.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

12:52 , George Flood

Here is what Wahid Rahim had to say on the hand-wrapping controversy at the press conference...

“I talked to Fulton about my concerns, and he asked me not to discuss my concerns. Fulton said, ‘I don’t care if he has bricks in his gloves, I will still win’.

“As I admire his courage, I have to do my job and look out for his safety. In previous fights, Inoue and his team have wrapped his hands with an excessive amount of tape on his skin and then put gauze and more tape, which creates a cast.

“This is not an assumption. I have proof. We could also wrap our hands in the same fashion, but where is the level of safety for the fighter? If this issue isn’t resolved, I will not allow my fighter into the ring.

“We are already behind enemy lines. We have made no requests, nothing at all. We have not even asked for a rematch clause. This is the only request that we had made. I would like for the hand wraps to be wrapped in a safe manner, not with tape on the hands or on the skin.”

As I said, Inoue and his team have dismissed these concerns and thankfully it won’t be an issue today, with both teams presumably sending someone to watch the other fighter’s hands being wrapped, as normally happens.

Inoue dismisses row over hand-wrapping technique

12:48 , George Flood

Added spice in the build-up to this huge main event saw Fulton’s team accuse Inoue’s camp of an unsafe hand-wrapping process, even threatening to pull him out of the fight at late notice.

Fulton’s lead trainer Wahid Rahim accused Inoue’s team of “stacking” in a lengthy speech to the media at the final press conference, saying that the “excessive” amount of tape used between layers of gauze essentially created an effect like a cast.

Inoue’s dismissive response came with a subsequent tweet that read: “Japan has its own local rules. Even in the US, there are local rules on each state, and the winding methods are different.

“Our fight will be held in Japan on 25^th, so of course I will follow the Japanese rules. Don’t suck it up. Just Fight!”

This bout was originally supposed to take place on May 7 in Yokohama of course, only to be postponed after Inoue suffered an unspecified injury in training.

Naoya Inoue: Being the challenger has raised my motivation

12:37 , George Flood

Naoya Inoue insists his motivation remains higher than ever as he seeks to become a four-division world champion in front of an adoring home crowd in Tokyo today.

‘The Monster’ hasn’t been the challenger in any fight for many years and is relishing that rare status as he bids to reach another level still and take two world titles in his first bout at super-bantamweight.

“Coming up to be able to challenge Stephen Fulton for the title has given me great motivation,” he said this week.

“I get excited thinking about this fight and about how I will perform. I’ve been watching film of Fulton, and I think he is a very intelligent fighter.”

“I haven’t been a challenger in five years, and that has heightened my motivation as well. I think I will be able to perform better than before.”

Naoya Inoue targeting more undisputed glory

12:25 , George Flood

Naoya Inoue says he is targeting becoming the undisputed champion of a second weight division by the end of 2023, having made history down at 118lbs by dominating England’s Paul Butler en route to an 11th-round stoppage in December that saw him complete the full set of belts.

Now he wants to do likewise up at super-bantamweight, starting straight with the division’s leading man in Stephen Fulton. Should he successfully inflict the American’s first defeat this afternoon, then Marlon Tapales will lie in his path next.

The Filipino is currently the unified WBA and IBF champion at 122lbs after a controversial split-decision win over Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev in San Antonio back in April.

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue up next

12:12 , George Flood

Just the main event to come now in Tokyo!

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue for the unified WBC and WBO super-bantamweight world titles is coming up NEXT.

You won’t want to miss this, believe me. It’s got Fight of the Year contender written all over it.

What next for Robeisy Ramirez?

12:09 , George Flood

Robeisy Ramirez is just so, so good to watch, isn’t he? Such an accomplished fighter and he keeps getting better.

You wonder what will come next for the Cuban, who has talked up a unification clash with IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez, fresh off the latter’s destruction of Michael Conlan in Belfast.

He’s also spoken of a desire to take on WBA champion Leigh Wood, who of course took back his belt with revenge on Mauricio Lara on the same night as Conlan’s defeat by Lopez back in May.

Robeisy Ramirez stops Satoshi Shimizu in fifth round

12:02 , George Flood

Round 5

It’s all over!

Ramirez comes out for the fifth determined to finish the fight and does just that after one minute and eight seconds.

The huge combinations and spiteful blows keep landing to both head and body in two sustained beatdowns that force the referee to step in.

Shimizu had initially gone down once before getting back up and being subject to the same brutal treatment with blood streaming from his nose, being smashed by enormous hooks and uppercuts with no defence and nothing coming back.

The referee is right to wave off a hopelessly one-sided contest. Absolutely dominant from Ramirez, who successfully defends his WBO featherweight title for the first time.

The Cuban is now 13-1 with eight knockouts. Shimizu drops to 11-2.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:57 , George Flood

Round 4

Wonderful variety and power from Ramirez, who smashes in more of those shuddering hooks, uppercuts, jabs and straight hands. Dream combinations.

He’s bobbing and weaving nicely, repeatedly clubbing in such heavy shots to both head and body.

It’s a mismatch as the champion goes for it, backing up Shimizu against the ropes with a sustained assault.

He wants the stoppage, but the home fighter keeps a desperate high guard and just about escapes and makes it to the end of the fourth.

The gulf in class here is enormous. Shimizu evidently has heart but he has nothing whatsoever to hurt the vastly superior Ramirez and cannot stem or avoid these attacks with blood trickling from his nose in the corner.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:53 , George Flood

Round 3

Everything Shimizu does is being cheered to the rafters, but most of his shots are deflected and the ones that do land are not ever likely to hurt Ramirez.

The Cuban lurches forward again with menace, putting more of those solid combinations together with power and venom.

Piercing hooks, jabs and uppercuts all land from Ramirez, with Shimizu already receiving a couple of warnings from the referee for shots below the belt.

These hooks to the body in particular are really going to take the will out of Shimizu very fast unless he can find a way to effectively combat them.

Ramirez dominant through three and showing his class.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:50 , George Flood

Round 2

Shimizu is a bit too open trying to throw the jab early in the second and he gets duly punished by Ramirez, who immediately steps up the tempo and puts some spiteful combinations together.

He lands well to both body and head with some thudding blows, with Shimizu clearly feeling the power already.

Shimizu’s shots are already looking rather lethargic and uncertain and he’s extremely vulnerable to these inevitably strong counters being flung out by the talented Cuban.

Ramirez just misses the target with a huge left hand shortly before the bell, but does manage one last attack in a dominant second-round showing.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:45 , George Flood

Round 1

Shimizu is not afraid to go on the offensive and let his hands go in this opening round, spurred on by a supportive home crowd in Tokyo.

Ramirez starts calmly and keeps a high guard, sussing out an opponent eight years his senior and mostly deflecting the shots off his gloves.

A few nice body shots dug in early by Ramirez, who vaults forward before the bell and shows his speed and anticipation on the counter.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:41 , George Flood

As Jimmy Lennon Jr points out, this is Satoshi Shimizu’s first world title tilt at the age of 37, despite being ranked at No12 by the WBO.

It would be a stunning upset if he was able to immediately dethrone the excellent Robeisy Ramirez.

Here we go...

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:37 , George Flood

Now here comes the champion, who was apparently ordered not to use any Cuban flags or anthems tonight.

He looks nice and loose and a picture of calm as he glides to the ring with his belt held aloft, accompanied by trusted coach Ismael Salas, who also trains the likes of Joe Joyce.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:32 , George Flood

Jimmy Lennon Jr is taking over MC duties as we get set for the ring walks for the co-main event.

Satoshi Shimizu is set to walk first as the challenger, as is customary in world title fights.

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith is an interesting choice of ring-walk music as he emerges into the arena with arms raised to a great reception.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

11:19 , George Flood

The popular and hugely skilled Robeisy Ramirez won gold at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, turning pro in 2019 but suffering a shock first defeat against Adan Gonzales.

He has rattled off 12 consecutive wins since then with seven knockouts, picking up the WBO featherweight belt with a comfortable points win over Isaac Dogboe in Oklahoma in April that included a final-round knockdown.

He puts that gold on the line for the first time today against Satoshi Shimizu, the 37-year-old Japanese fighter, himself a bronze medalist at London 2012.

Shimizu is 11-1 as a pro with 10 knockouts, holding the OPBF featherweight belt since 2017 and also picking up various other regional titles such as the WBO Asia Pacific featherweight and super-featherweight straps.

He beat Landy Cris Leon on his last outing on the Inoue-Butler undercard in December, with his lone defeat coming against Joe Noynay back in 2019.

Shimizu likely has his work cut out here.

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu next

11:06 , George Flood

It’s almost time for the co-main event of the night in Tokyo!

Before Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue lock horns, Cuba’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez defends his WBO featherweight title for the first time against experienced Japanese campaigner Satoshi Shimizu.

Kanamu Sakama stops Ryu Horikawa in final round

10:53 , George Flood

Worrying scenes initially there with Horikawa lying stretched out on the canvas, but thankfully he’s now up on his feet.

He gave his all in a thrilling battle, but Sakama is clearly the superior fighter and his pressure, greater power, timing and variety finally paid off in the end as he went to a different level in the eighth.

He picks up the Japan Youth Title at light-flyweight and stays unbeaten at 8-0, with seven knockouts.

Horikawa, who hadn’t fought for more than a year before today I don’t think, drops to 3-2-2.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:48 , George Flood

An incredible final round!

Both men leave it all in the ring with more non-stop action, with Sakama taking over, turning on the heat and battering the game Horikawa with some bruising shots.

A massive punch lands upstairs and hurts Horikawa, with Sakama sensing a late finish.

He doesn’t relent and another shot sends Horikawa staggering on unsteady legs, with the referee stepping in to wave it off before an exhausted and hurt Horikawa - with blood streaming from the nose - sinks to the canvas.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:43 , George Flood

A blistering seventh round and Horikawa’s best of the fight so far, for sure.

Likely aware that he is behind, he really steps up the tempo and tries to swarm Sakama, letting his hands fly and the shots flow in bunches at every opportunity.

Both men land plenty during the course of a thrilling round, but Sakama wasn’t able to be nearly as clean or effective with so much coming at him.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:39 , George Flood

Better from Horikawa in the sixth, he plays more of a prominent role in those busy close-range exchanges.

But still the more effective, eye-catching work, shots and combinations are coming from Sakama.

Into the final two rounds we go in Tokyo...

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:35 , George Flood

Sakama is showing a decent range of shots and styles here, jabbing nicely and throwing some good punches from distance but also demonstrating quality up close.

He drives in a quick series of uppercuts on the inside that find their mark.

Horikawa is able to produce one or two snappy counters to try and keep Sakama off him, but they are often followed by a speedy return that lands up top.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:32 , George Flood

Sakama’s speed of thought and movement is impressive, as displayed in that fourth-round highlight when he smoothly ducked an attempted jab from Horikawa before rattling in a piercing shot to the body.

Another round in the bag for Sakama, who will want to get him out of there sooner rather than later.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:26 , George Flood

Some really nice work from Sakama in the third.

He’s putting Horikawa under immense pressure for the most part, attacking both body and head with some really sharp combos.

A left to the body near the ropes hurts Horikawa, who is likely three rounds down now.

Sakama going through the gears well.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

10:21 , George Flood

This is an entertaining scrap through two rounds with no shortage of action and furious close-range flurries.

Sakama ups the intensity in the second, walking down Horikawa and nailing him with some eye-catching shots, including a sneaky uppercut and right hook to the head.

Horikawa had started reasonably well off the jab, but he looks vulnerable when Sakama steps on the accelerator.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa next

10:14 , George Flood

On we go with the main-card action in Tokyo - I have a feeling today’s main event is going to be quite a bit earlier than many are anticipating.

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa is up next, a battle of two Japanese prospects in the light-flyweight division.

The vacant Japan Youth title at 108lbs is up for grabs.

The 20-year-old Sakama is 7-0 as a professional with six knockouts, stopping Han Sol Lee on his last outing in November.

Horikawa is 3-1-2, drawing with Sho Kimura last time out. Before that, he suffered his only pro loss to date against Yudai Shigeoka.

This is another scheduled eight-rounder.

Yoshiki Takei stops Ronnie Baldonado in final round

09:59 , George Flood

It’s all over!

Once again at the start of the third round Baldonado retreats under pressure too easily to the corner.

He’s nailed with a right jab upstairs, with Takei quickly following that up with a left hook that seems to graze the body.

Baldonado takes it at first, but then hits the canvas in something of a delayed reaction.

He stays down and is counted out! Takei up to 7-0 with another knockout on his record.

Yoshiki Takei vs Ronnie Baldonado

09:57 , George Flood

Takei on the offensive early on here as you might expect, forcing the pace and constantly applying the pressure on the front foot.

His movement is nice and he works the angles well, piecing together some pretty combinations to head and body.

Baldonado seems content to let himself be constantly pushed into the corners and hope to uncork a big counter.

It’s a hell of a risky strategy though against someone as obviously heavy-handed as Takei.

Yoshiki Takei vs Ronnie Baldonado

09:56 , George Flood

Takei on the offensive early on here as you might expect, forcing the pace and constantly applying the pressure on the front foot.

His movement is nice and he works the angles well, piecing together some pretty combinations to head and body.

Baldonado seems content to let himself be constantly pushed into the corners and hope to uncork a big counter.

It’s a hell of a risky strategy though against someone as obviously heavy-handed as Takei.

Yoshiki Takei vs Ronnie Baldonado up next

09:51 , George Flood

This is a four-fight main card in actual fact, and we’re kicking off now with Yoshiki Takei vs Ronnie Baldonado.

Japan’s Takei is a celebrated former kickboxer who now competes in boxing, 6-0 so far with six knockouts and having picked up the OPBF title against Pete Apolinar last summer.

He defended the belt successfully for the first time with an 11th-round stoppage of Bruno Tarimo on the Inoue-Butler undercard at this arena back in December.

The Philippines’ Baldonado is 16-4-1, ending a run of three straight losses by beating Ben Mananquil back in January.

This is an eight-rounder in the super-bantamweight division.

Fulton vs Inoue fight card in full

09:41 , George Flood

Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue

Robeisy Ramirez vs Satoshi Shimizu

Chihiro Iwashita vs Hiroyuki Takahara

Kanamu Sakama vs Ryu Horikawa

Taiga Imanaga vs Hebi Marapu

Yoshiki Takei vs Ronnie Baldonado

Yuki Kajitani vs Masato Shinoda

Kenta Yamakawa vs Ryosuke Nakamura

Takero Kitano vs Kenta Kawakami

Fulton vs Inoue fight prediction

09:39 , George Flood

One of the most highly-anticipated fights of 2023 kicks off a great period of summer boxing that also includes Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr, Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith, Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte, Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois, Canelo Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo and many more.

But this really does have the potential to be the best of the lot as the vicious Naoya Inoue - the first Asian boxer ever to become a four-belt world champion - faces the battle of his career against the planet’s best super-bantamweight.

The odds are certainly against Stephen Fulton in Inoue’s back yard, but he is a clever, slick, versatile and experienced fighter who has the skills necessary to frustrate and bypass his opponent’s awesome power.

After demolishing the great Nonito Donaire in a hopelessly one-sided rematch of their bloody 2019 classic, ‘The Monster’ battered Paul Butler before Christmas, but for a change struggled to find a trademark venomous finish before finally breaking his stubborn resistance with a typically violent barrage in the penultimate round.

He won’t have things completely his own way here and we anticipate a few cagey but fascinating rounds where Fulton is able to steer clear of those trademark power punches that reverberate around the area and perhaps even take a lead on the cards.

However, you can only avoid the Inoue onslaught for so long, as a record of 21 knockouts from 24 outings can attest, so expect the home favourite to eventually wear down his rival’s defences and inflict his maiden professional defeat via a brutal late stoppage.

Fulton vs Inoue start time

09:37 , George Flood

As ever with these Tuesday bouts that fall in the daytime in the UK, there has been a bit of uncertainty around the exact start times.

But the undercard should be underway soon, while some say 12pm BST for main-event ring walks, others day 1pm - or maybe in between!

How to watch Fulton vs Inoue

09:36 , George Flood

TV channel: In the UK, Fulton vs Inoue is available to watch live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 9:30am BST.

Live stream: Those with a Sky Sports subscription can also catch the action as it happens online via the Sky Go app.

Welcome to Fulton vs Inoue LIVE coverage!

09:33 , George Flood

Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard’s live coverage of Stephen Fulton vs Naoya Inoue.

We’ve got a real daytime treat for UK fight fans today, with a potential Fight of the Year contender coming up at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Having made history as the undisputed bantamweight king back in December, Inoue, a pound-for-pound superstar and one of boxing’s most destructive and formidable knockout artists, is jumping up to 122lbs this afternoon in a bid to become a four-division world champion on home soil.

Standing in his way is unified WBC and WBO super-bantamweight champion Fulton, a highly-skilled and unbeaten operator who, in his very first fight outside of the US, is confident of ending Inoue’s fearsome run in what should be a blockbuster showdown between two superb boxers.

The undercard action gets underway shortly, with main event ring walks expected between 12pm BST and 1pm. You can follow the whole event live with Standard Sport - this is not one to miss!