FOLLOWING his loss to Naoya Inoue in Tokyo yesterday Stephen Fulton admitted to being disappointed by the performance he gave.
The American super-bantamweight had been in a confident mood all week unfazed by the task that lay in front of him.
Inoue, who has swept all before him at bantamweight all the down to light-flyweight, was the sharper of the two throughout the contest at the Ariake Arena. The Japanese superstar started faster and sharper with his jab a prominent weapon in the early stages. He followed that up with thudding combinations and hand speed that Fulton could do little about.
Dominant in virtually every round Inoue closed the book on the fight in round eight. Fulton was dropped in the first minute of the round when a right hand and thudding left hook sent the Philadelphian crashing to the floor. Seconds later Inoue got his man trapped in the corner and unleashed a hellish assault giving referee Hector Afu no choice but to step in and end the contest.
“I’m not feeling bad because I’m a champion no matter what,” Fulton said afterwards.
“I’m very disappointed in my performance but I can’t 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.”
Earlier today on Twitter Fulton shared a few more feelings on his first defeat.
“Upset about what happened but it comes with the territory. Thanks to everyone who supported me. I feel like I let y’all down as well as myself. Thanks to the city of Philadelphia for having my back and I will bounce back.
“I be back. Real upset but I’m not going to let that bring me down. Head high chin up, family time then back to work.”
