Stephen Fulton never had any intention of engaging in a war of words with O’Shaquie Foster.
Even during a press conference where the main objective is to talk, the two-division and reigning WBC featherweight titlist still prefers to make his biggest statement in the ring.
Still, Fulton felt the need to defend against the claim that he’s a fish out of water in his latest matchup. The fighting pride of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania aims to become a three-division titlist as he challenges for Foster’s WBC 130lbs belt. Their bout is part of a four-fight PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View event on October 25 from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Foster, 23-3 (12 KOs) – a two-time titlist from the greater Houston area – has not only vowed to send Fulton running back down to featherweight, but still views him as a natural 122-pound fighter.
Naturally, that claim was challenged by his adversary.
“I’m a dog. I don’t really be caring how big people are,” Fulton said during the kickoff press conference Wednesday at The Mayan in Los Angeles, California. “I done fought the biggest, the strongest. I really don’t be caring. The power isn’t going to matter to me. They looking at past weight classes. I outgrew [122lbs] since before I lost. I’ve been 122, 123 since the amateurs.
“I just moved up last year. I became a two-division champion and I’m about to do it again. I ain’t going back down. I’m sticking around. I’ll fuck around and move up again after I conquer this.”
Foster-Fulton is the co-feature on a show topped by the Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman WBC 154lbs title fight.
The buildup has been spicy between Foster and Fulton, 23-1 (8 KOs), primarily because both have been chomping at the bit to meet in the ring.
The two agreed to terms earlier this year for a fight that was supposed to take place on August 16. Those plans were scrapped when the planned show lost its headliner – a targeted Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jnr rematch that is now unlikely to ever see the light of day.
The fallout meant another 10 weeks before Fulton gets the chance to put paws on Foster in a bid to win a fourth major title across three weight divisions.
He claimed the WBC 126lbs title in a dominant, unanimous decision victory over Brandon Figueroa in their February 1 rematch at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was a repeat win for Fulton, who barely edged Figueroa in their Fight of the Year-level WBC/WBO 122lbs unification bout in November 2021.
The first win over Figueroa was followed by a shutout victory over former titlist Daniel Roman in June 2022. The virtuoso performance marked, however, his final winning moment at the weight. Fulton conceded his unified titles to Naoya Inoue in a one-sided, eighth-round knockout defeat more two years ago in Tokyo, Japan.
Two wins have followed, both at featherweight including his repeat feat over Figueroa to collect his third major title.
Foster attempts the first defense of his second tour as a WBC 130lbs titleholder. He had plenty to say on Wednesday about his plans to retain the belt, though Fulton did his best to tune out the noise.
“He’s saying everything he’s supposed to say. I understand where he at,” noted Fulton. “I don’t do all the back and forth. I’ll let you do all the talking. I’m gonna do it in the ring.”
