Comments Thread For: Stephen Fulton: "I Am Amongst The Elite, Disappointed In Myself"

[_Rexy_]

Tank vs. Ryan was a co-promotion, between PBC and DAZN! Both fighters were American. Tank as Champion called all the shots! Very different scenario! Cruz does what he's supposed to, I guarantee you he gets that rematch later this year! Haney had to sign with TR, and go to Australia, back-to-back, because he was the CHALLENGER! Did Fulton treat Inoue like that?

Tank wasn't the champion. 136 catchweight, remember? No belt on the line.

[PunchyPotorff]

This guy's a clown with that 'elite' jabbering. Geez... you got a gift vs Figueroa...
and an ACTUAL elite in Inoue made you look average at best. Be thankful for the big payday.

[Teetotaler69]

There is always a reason, when a Champion loses 2 belts! Steph went there, now reciprocate. it's the the right thing to do!

What a clown

[richardt]

Fulton is in the top 1% at what he does for a living!! I'D SAY THAT IS ***ING ELITE!! He faced a future Hall of Fame and potentially ATG fighter and lost. That does not take away what the odds are of winning world titles and how difficult that is to be where Fulton got to.

[Sid-Knee]

I think Fulton just underestimated Inoue and didn't train hard enough. He thought Inoue wouldn't be able to hurt him, being a smaller man moving up and thought his speed and power wasn't real and that even if it was real, it wouldn't carry over to 122lbs. But Inoue is a very hard worker. You fight the way u train, and he is very explosive so he is obviously doing tons of sprints and plyometrics. He's strong from the inside out, and can carry his speed and power as he moves up in weight just like Pacquiao did. Fulton knows this now firsthand and will train much better next time. He wasn't prepared for what Inoue was bringing because he didn't think Inoue would bring that much in his Tank and didn't think his power was like that. To beat Inoue, at a minimum a fighter has to be in dog shape. U better train to do at least 15 hard fast paced rounds, and when he punches, u have to always be able to return fire and not worry about getting tired against him. You also have take it to him at times and be able real hit him hard. Because Inoue has those legs. He closes distance fast, explodes, moves around, feints, explodes again, and can do this all night long, and he cracks for real. He is plain old dangerous and not to ever be taken lightly by anyone. He's really real fellas get that thru ur heads. No more underestimating him. But this will raise the bar in boxing. Guys will see this and realize that the only way to get on top is to be in 15 round condition. This will make guys be more serious about conditioning. Now Fulton get back in there and train ur ass off this time and lets go because ur a helluva dude

If Fulton did think Inoue's power wouldn't be an issue, then he deserves what he got. However, he didn't think that at all. He knew from the first bell which is why he was so cautious. He knew one false move would have him out on the canvas.

[ShoulderRoll]

Elite should be reserved for fighters like Inoue.

[Sid-Knee]

There was no slick head movement and defense by Inoue, that's why on the few occasions when Fulton did throw something aggressive, he landed flush, but went into defensive mode instead of following up. There was nothing slick about the way Inoue fought, it was the same as always, body jabs and overhand over the top of opponents' jab, and jump in with combinations.

Inoue didn't slip nearly every Fulton punch then?

Man, you're even worse than you usually are today. And that's saying something here. Fulton doesn't belong anywhere near to a rematch. If he had one in the contract, i would bet everything he wouldn't be talking about taking it. He'd say he needed a rest to let the time on it run out. He knows he isn't getting one so he's talking about it. Come on, this is madness. When do you say the American has to go fight overseas when a fighter get's their title ripped off from them by fighting in the US? Never.

[Sid-Knee]

Because, although he lost convincingly, much of it was by his own unwillingness to fight HIS fight. Fulton knows what he is capable of, and that wasn't it. He allowed the noise of Inoue's power and excellence to get him off his game before the fight even started. I have never seen him fight that way, and I have watched most of his fights.

He was overly tentative and cautious, wouldn't even let his hands go from a comfortable distance with the longer reach, and allowed Inoue to dictate the pace, distance, and exchanges. Even when he hit Inoue flush with a counter, instead of following up, he would shell up and allow multiple combinations, just trying to block everything, instead of punching in between punches.

Now that he knows what to expect as far as power and quickness, he should be able to prepare to be less risk averse and fight HIS fight, just as the Monster did in the first go round. Inoue was determined to fight his fight, his way, regardless of the risk.

Fulton wouldn't let his hands go because Inoue would have knocked him out even quicker if he did. Inoue was able to get past his lead hand and not allow him to establish the jab due to much better footwork and upper body movement then he's ever come up against.

I knew this was a mismatch from the start. But i know why you picked Fulton to win. It's like the others on here where they make it obvious to why.

[Hands of Stone]

Most of you Fulton fanboys don't even understand what you are watching when you watch these fights. Fulton tried moving but Inoue was punching in anticipation of where Fulton's legs were going and he was catching the target often which is why whatever game plan Fulton had went out of the window and he was forced to fight Inoue at range which was a very bad idea considering he had no power. So he was damned if he did and also damned if he didn't.

Seeing how Inoue had answers for everything Fulton was doing which he did fighting Fulton's fight by the way, why would you all want a rematch for him. The guy didn't win one round and even if Fulton was able to make adjustments in a rematch, so we 'll just assume Inoue is incapable of making any adjustments of his own. Ask Donaire how the adjustment he made in the rematch worked out for him. Remove the emotions and use your head folks, Inoue is all wrong for that boy irrespective of where the fight takes place.

[Sid-Knee]

Fulton wasn't even world class, he was fringe world level. He has one decent win in Figs and that's it. You have to be at least world class to be elite.