It wasn’t a surprise given the rules and standards of the World Boxing Organization but the news on Wednesday was welcome. 

As reported in the Japan Times and multiple other outlets, 29-year old undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KO) was “awarded the status of bantamweight super champion in the World Boxing Organization’s latest rankings, giving him priority for a title shot if he moves up to challenge American Stephen Fulton in the weight division above.”

The WBO has opened a window for what could be one of the best fights in boxing. How long that window remains open, and whether Inoue or Fulton step through it, remains to be seen.

Inoue hasn’t fought without a title on the line from one of the four major sanctioning bodies since his fifth pro start, amassing belts across the Jr. flyweight, Jr. bantamweight, and now bantamweight divisions. While Inoue may take a non-title bout at Jr. featherweight before a title try, it feels more likely he goes hunting for gold right away. 

That assumes Inoue moves up. There is always the possibility Inoue could defend the bantamweight title again before he makes a move. Countryman Kazuto Ioka is fighting to unify a pair of belts at Jr. bantamweight at the end of the month with Joshua Franco. Lineal Jr. bantam king Juan Francisco Estrada defeated Roman Gonzalez earlier this month. 

Both could be attractive opponents and Estrada in particular wouldn’t be without intrigue. Inoue has never faced any of the hardcore four (Estrada, Gonzalez, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Carlos Cuadras), having left Jr. bantamweight shortly after that rivalry really kicked into gear. Estrada stands at 5-2 in the series. An Inoue-Estrada clash as the final chapter of an era at what could be called bantamweight classic, the space between 112-118 pounds, would have historical value.

If that’s not happening, staying at bantamweight doesn’t present much in the way of appealing matchups or new mountains to conquer. Both of those things come one division up. The most direct line to Jr. featherweight gold for Inoue, based on the mandatory situation in the division, goes through Fulton.

Akhmadaliev took care of his obligations to the WBA in his lone outing of 2022, a twelfth-round stoppage of Ronny Rios in June. The IBF ordered their mandatory in September, declaring Akmahdaliev must face former bantamweight titlist Marlon Tapales next or face the potential loss of their belt. Last week, the bout was ordered to purse bids. Akhmadaliev has been healing from injuries but all signs point to Tapales being next.

For Fulton, the WBC mandatory was fulfilled in June 2022 as well. Fulton posted a lopsided decision win over former unified titlist Daniel Roman, meaning the WBO would be his next mandatory obligation…if Fulton chooses to fight on at Jr. featherweight.

While Akhmadaliev is mandated to face Tapales next, Fulton’s plans appear to be a trip to featherweight to face Brandon Figueroa for the interim WBC title. Fulton defeated Figueroa in an excellent Jr. featherweight unification contest in 2021. The interim label would be affixed because the WBC’s featherweight titlist, Rey Vargas, is headed up to face O’Shaquie Foster for the vacant WBC belt at Jr. lightweight. 

If Vargas wins and remains in the higher class, the Fulton-Figueroa II winner would slide in easily as the WBC’s primary champ at featherweight. A Fulton win would mean choices for Philadelphia native.

Does Fulton remain at featherweight or return to Jr. featherweight to continue his reign?

Inoue hasn’t fought three times in a calendar year since 2017. Waiting to see what happens in Fulton-Figueroa II before signing his next fight would fit well in his regular schedule. If the wait produces a showdown with Fulton, the sport and its fans will be well rewarded.

It’s an exceptional clash.

Inoue’s accomplishments, particularly after his run at bantamweight, are as good as almost any active fighter in the sport. Since 2014, he’s been one of the most dominant fighters in boxing. His most impressive run of consecutive competition came at bantamweight, starting with a knockout of Jamie McDonnell, through the World Boxing Super Series and a Fight of the Year victory over Nonito Donaire, and finally through a knockout defense of solid contender Jason Moloney. Inoue posted five straight wins against some of the best bantamweights in the world.

Since Moloney, the competition hasn’t been the same. His rematch victory over Donaire, a fight Donaire earned with two impressive wins after the first loss to Inoue, was more impressive for how Inoue did it. Inoue beat Donaire the first time despite a broken orbital bone and was expected to do it again. Inoue’s other three foes since Moloney, including a Paul Butler who had a belt, entered with an air of hopelessness. 

Inoue’s desire to be the first undisputed bantamweight champion in fifty years was understandable. It didn’t mean a lot of red meat to look forward to over the last two years. It’s time to see Inoue in a fight where the outcome feels in doubt, where we find out if a modern great can be greater.

Or if Inoue can push another man to cement his own place at the table.

Fulton has built a solid resume, defeating undefeated opponents in four of his last five bouts with three consecutive top ten wins at Jr. featherweight according to the rankings of the TBRB and Ring Magazine. What Fulton doesn’t have yet is the sort of opponent that makes the whole boxing world stop and anticipate. Angelo Leo, Figueroa, and Roman are all damn good foes, but none carried the reputation, accomplishment, or acclaim into the ring Inoue would. 

There are many who rate Inoue as the best fighter in the world, pound-for-pound, right now. There isn’t another opponent within four pounds of Fulton, up or down, who is in the zip code of that conversation. Fulton-Figueroa II is a good fight but it’s not a clash with Inoue. 

Someone is going to be the first man to tame the “Monster.”

Is Fulton that guy?      

Inoue has never faced a fighter with the combination of versatility, speed, length, and height Fulton would challenge him with. While Inoue would be moving up another weight class, his power should be assumed to carry up with him. Inoue laid waste to most of the bantamweight division. Some of those foes have since gone on to compete and last far longer at Jr. featherweight. Fulton hasn’t faced anyone with the explosiveness of Inoue and Inoue’s speed advantage over Fulton’s last few foes is palpable.

There have been some classic matches pitting Jr. featherweight champions against recent or reigning bantamweight titans. Wilfredo Gomez knocked out Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. held off Orlando Canizales. Rafael Marquez moved up to topple Israel Vazquez and set off an epic series of battles.

Fulton-Inoue fits right in with that legacy. 

The WBO has opened a window, a path, to a tremendous showdown. They’re both in their prime. There’s reason to think either men can win…or lose. The winner would be positioned to face the winner of an Akhmadaliev-Tapales fight to complete yet another belt collection in a recent burst of all-the-belts unifications across the scale. 

It’s hard to ask for more.

Let’s start crossing fingers now. Fulton-Inoue is as good a fight as boxing can deliver in 2023.         

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com