Stephen Fulton explains decision to fight Inoue in Japan and why he will win

STEPHEN FULTON says his mindset will be a key factor when he fights Naoya Inoue next month.

Their highly anticipated super-bantamweight clash takes place on July 25 at the Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku in Japan. It takes place just four days before Errol Spence and Terence Crawford put it all on the line in Las Vegas.

Inoue 24-0 (21) is moving up from bantamweight to take on the Philadelphian and his 24-fight record is a highlight reel for fans of devastating knockouts. During his guest appearance on the PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) podcast Fulton was asked how he will beat Inoue.

โ€œBecause Iโ€™m smart,โ€ he answered.

โ€œI believe in my mindset. I believe in my abilities. Iโ€™m very smart. Thereโ€™s nothing I canโ€™t out-think.

“I didnโ€™t take this fight to go out there for money. Thatโ€™s what other guys wanna do. Thatโ€™s not my mindset. My mindset is strictly going over there because I know I can win, and I want to challenge myself while doing it. I want to put myself to the test. This is a huge f*****g fight. So why not try to live up to that moment? I didnโ€™t just do this for money, it just so happened I was offered some nice money so thatโ€™s the icing on the cake so letโ€™s go do it.โ€

The 28-year-old did not once break into trash talk or disregard Inoue in any way. Fulton is not over-confident; in fact, he sounds like a man in full control of his destiny. Two years ago, after beating Angelo Leo on points he predicted that one day he would fight Inoue in Japan.

โ€œI got out the ring someone [and] came to me, an interview or something and said something about Inoue and I said who,โ€ Fulton recalled.

โ€œThis was my first time ever hearing about him. I said Iโ€™m gonna fight him. I said Iโ€™m gonna go out to Japan. My coach said why would you go to Japan, I said itโ€™s bigger out there. I wasnโ€™t even talking about money. Itโ€™s bigger. It makes more sense out there, why wouldnโ€™t it. I said literally Iโ€™ll defend my belts out there. He said why? And I was like coz no-one wonโ€™t do nothing like that. Iโ€™m different. I feel like thatโ€™s how my whole career has been.โ€

Fulton v Inoue carries the potential of a fight which will produce a bit of everything. Drama, excitement, and elite skillsets that you would come to expect from two of the worldโ€™s best. Fulton was asked how he pictured the fight playing out on July 25.

โ€œI feel like itโ€™s going to be a great fight, honestly,” he replied.

“I donโ€™t wanna give too much because then I may start talking about the things I wanna do in the ring that may affect the impact of the decision and things like that. I feel like itโ€™s going to be a great fight. Overall, I feel like itโ€™s going to be an intriguing fight, a technical fight, a very skilful fight and [an] intelligent fight from both sides. Once weโ€™re both in there [and] weโ€™re warm anything can happen and thatโ€™s my honest opinion. Once weโ€™re going at it and trying to out-think each other that s*** [is] gonna be beautiful.”

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