NAOYA INOUE has shared a few comments ahead of his highly anticipated bout against Stephen Fulton.
The Japanese phenom moves up to super-bantamweight to challenge the number one 122lbs fighter on July 25.
Fulton 21-0 (8), who landed in Japan a few days earlier this week, will have his first fight outside of America when he faces Inoue 24-0 (21) at the Ariake Arena in Kōtō, Tokyo. The same site where the national boxing hero knocked out Paul Butler in the penultimate round of their fight seven months ago.
Both Fulton and Inoue are unbeaten in 45 contests between them, but Inoue carries the superior firepower with nearly treble the knockouts that Fulton has.
At the Ohashi Gym in Yokohama Inoue spoke of his motivation at being the challenger, a tag unfamiliar to him since 2018 when he demolished Jamie McDonnell in one round.
“I have absolutely nothing to be anxious about,” Inoue said. “As the challenger for the first time in a while, I’m as fired up as I’ve ever been.”
Having won everything at bantamweight Inoue will fight in his fourth weight class having begun at light-flyweight on his professional debut in 2012.
“My work is going well,” Inoue said. “I’m handling the preparations. I am thinking super bantam is the best weight for me.”
Fulton vs Inoue will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK. It kicks off what is sure to be a memorable week for boxing fans culminating with Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford, live on TNT Sports Box Office, four days later.