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Fight Week: Boxing doesn’t get better than this

Michael Rosenthal
·4 min read

FIGHT WEEK

The sport hit the jackpot this week. Stephen Fulton Jr. is set to defend his 122-pound titles against Naoya Inoue on Tuesday morning in Japan while Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. are poised to fight for the undisputed 147-pound championship Saturday in Las Vegas.

STEPHEN FULTON JR. (21-0, 8 KOs) VS. NAOYA INOUE (24-0, 21 KOs)

  • Date: Tuesday, July 25

  • Time: 4:30 a.m. ET / 1:30 a.m. PT (main event later in show)

  • Where: Ariake Arena, Tokyo

  • TV/Stream: ESPN+

  • Division: Junior featherweight (122 pounds)

  • Weights: Fulton 121.9, Inoue 121.7

  • At stake: Fulton’s WBC and WBO titles

  • Odds: Inoue 3-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)

  • Pound-for-pound: Inoue No. 2, Fulton Honorable Mention

  • Also on the card: Robeisy Ramirez vs. Satoshi Shimizu, featherweights (for Ramirez’s WBO title)

  • Prediction: Inoue UD

  • Background: Fulton vs. Inoue is one of the best-possible matchups in boxing. They are both unbeaten, both are on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list (Inoue No. 2, Fulton Honorable Mention) and both are at the top of their games. Fulton, a master technician, won his first of two major titles by easily outpointing Angelo Leo in January 2021. The Philadelphian then added his second by eking past Brandon Figueroa by a majority decision in a taxing brawl 10 months later. He’s coming off an outstanding performance, a near-shutout performance against capable Daniel Roman in June of last year. Some believe Inoue is the best all-around fighter in the world. The former three-division titleholder from Yokohama has an imposing combination of ability, speed and power, which has allowed him to overwhelm virtually all of his opponents. He last fought in December, when he dominated and then stopped Paul Butler in 11 rounds in defense of his undisputed 118-pound championship. He later vacated all four of his titles. Inoue, who started as a 108-pounder in 2012, will be fighting above 118 pounds for the first time in his career. That could be an equalizer for Fulton, who oddsmakers have made a substantial underdog.

 

TERENCE CRAWFORD (39-0, 30 KOs) VS. ERROL SPENCE JR. (28-0, 22 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, July 29

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)

  • Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view

  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)

  • At stake: Spence’s IBF, WBA, WBC and Crawford’s WBO titles

  • Odds: Crawford 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)

  • Pound-for-pound: Crawford No. 1, Spence No. 4

  • Also on the card: Isaac Cruz vs. Giovanni Cabrera, lightweights; Nonito Donaire vs. Alexandro Santiago, bantamweights (for vacant WBC title); Yoenis Tellez vs. Sergio Garcia, junior middleweights; Steven Nelson vs. Rowdy Montgomery, super middleweights; Jose Salas Reyes vs. Aston Palicte, junior featherweights

  • Prediction: Crawford UD

  • Background: Who’s the best welterweight in the post Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao era? We’ll find out on Saturday night, when the Nos. 1 (Crawford) and 4 (Spence) finally meet in the ring. They have a combined record of 67-0 (52 KOs), Hall of Fame credentials, special talent and the respect of everyone who follows boxing. Crawford won his first world title at 135 a decade ago and went on to win major belts in two more divisions, climbing to the top of pound-for-pound lists in the process. His most important victory came in November 2021, when he became the first to stop Shawn Porter. “Bud” last fought in December, when he knocked out David Avanesyan in six rounds. Spence, a 2012 Olympian, isn’t as dynamic as Crawford but also is a superb all-around fighter and has the stronger resume. Among his victims: Kell Brook (whom Crawford also defeated), Mikey Gacia, Porter, Danny Gacia and Yordenis Ugas. The Ugas fight took place in April of last year, meaning Spence will have been out of the ring 15 months. The winner on Saturday will claim all four major 147-pound titles and arguably status as the greatest active boxer at an any weight.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Orlando Gonzalez vs. Ramiro Cesena, junior lightweights, Kissimmee, Florida (ProBoxTV)

FRIDAY

  • Seniesa Estrada vs. Leonela Paola Yudica, strawweights (for Estrada’s WBA and WBC titles), Las Vegas (ESPN+)

  • Idalberto Umara vs. Wilfredo Flores, lightweights, Orlando, Florida (CBS Sports Net, delayed)

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Story originally appeared on Boxing Junkie