Naoya Inoue made an extremely strong case pound-for-pound best fighter on the planet with a destructive knockout win over Stephen Fulton that crowned him a four-division champion.
Inoue moved up to super-bantamweight to take on the division’s poster boy and succeeded in every possible metric, putting on a near-faultless display from the opening bell.
In the eighth-round of the contest, Inoue silenced any suggestions that his power would be less effective at 122lbs, scoring an emphatic straight right before dropping Fulton with a left hook.
The brave American proudly yet cautiously rose to his feet, but couldn’t prevent another onslaught from ‘The Monster’, who unloaded on him in the corner before the referee stepped in to waive off the bout, crowning Inoue as the WBC and WBO champion.
In response to what is arguably the performance of the year thus far, a number of key figures heaped praise on Japan’s national boxing hero.
Shakur Stevenson
Great fight monster! Real sharp
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) July 25, 2023
Respect to scooter.. Dared to be great came up short I have nun but respect for him šÆ
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) July 25, 2023
Jamel Herring
Inoue is running through weight classes like a prime Manny Pacquiao. Credit to Cool Boy risking it all, heāll eventually bounce back. @trboxing#InoueFulton
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) July 25, 2023
Teddy Atlas
I have always favored the 1930s- 1960s, 1970s-1980s, as Boxingās best. But Inoue would have fit with greatest of any era. Heās the full package, which consists of: speed, power, smarts, technique, brains, instinct, timing, and controlled ferocity. Simply Special. #FultonInoueā¦ https://t.co/ip0xbhk5WY
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) July 25, 2023
Sergio Mora
One of the scariest punchers in boxing! https://t.co/ZbMz2A8gpW
— Sergio Mora š (@TheLatinSnake_) July 25, 2023
Mike Coppinger
Naoya Inoue isn't simply the best boxer in the world — he's an all-time great still adding chapters to his legendary career. Clearly heāll have to keep moving up in weight to meet a challenge. Enjoy āThe Monsterā while heās here. #FultonInouehttps://t.co/DVrooO4Iy7
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 25, 2023
Dev Sahni
Turns out Inoueās frightening power does indeed carry up to 122lbs. Maybe even beyond.
Genuinely think he would absolutely destroy all non Queensberry Super Bantamweights.#FultonInoue
— Dev Sahni (@devsahni) July 25, 2023
Manny Pacquiao
Inoue has great speed and lots of power behind his punches. Heās a special fighter! #InoueFulton
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) July 25, 2023
Sam Jones
Inoue P4P š
— Sam Jones (@mrsamjones88) July 25, 2023
Stephen Fulton
Stephen Fulton on his knockout defeat to Naoya Inoue: āIām not feeling bad because Iām a champion no matter what. Iām very disappointed in my performance, but I canāt allow that to dictate who I am as a person. I went out like a man, so I hold my head up like a man.ā
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 25, 2023
Bob Arum
Naoya Inoue is a once in a multi-generational talent. The best pound for pound fighter in the world. pic.twitter.com/DUjrUmU5wx
— Bob Arum (@BobArum) July 25, 2023
Lou DiBella
Wrote this 5 years ago. Five years later, the Monster is undoubtedly the greatest Japanese fighter of all time, the GOAT. And, at least for 5 days, Naoya Inoue is number 1 on my lb for lb list. Fulton is real good but that wasn't a fight, it was an exercise in #boxing dominance. https://t.co/tK1wNpl8io
— Lou DiBellaš„ (@loudibella) July 25, 2023
Claressa Shields
Glad Coolboy alright ! He dared to be great! But Inoue different! Power, speed and IQ wow
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) July 25, 2023
Ariel Helwani
Inoue stops Fulton in the 8th! What a freaking performance. Four division champ. THAT WAS A MASTERCLASS.
Wow. Holy smokes.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 25, 2023
Robert Garcia
It was over in Round 1 https://t.co/eK7j5ks34O
— Robert Garcia Boxing (@GarciaBoxing) July 25, 2023
Now, Inoue seems destined to become the undisputed super-bantamweight champion just seven months after he did the same at bantamweight.
The man in his way is Marlon Tapales, who holds the WBA and IBF titles, and appears to be ready to unify the division, stepping into the ring with Inoue after the demolition and agreeing to a clash in the future.