Since losing his unified Super Bantamweight titles to Naoya Inoue in July 2023 at the Ariake Arena Koto-Ku, Tokyo, Stephen Fulton has obviously kept a low profile.
The Pennsylvania native nicknamed " Cool Boy Steph" returns against Carlos Castro ( 30-2-0) next month.
Fulton’s September 7 featherweight debut against Carlos Castro is on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
After suffering a crushing eighth-round technical knockout defeat to the " Monster " he has remained mostly silent; only occasional gym footage emerged. Fulton returns the ring as the headliner of the preliminary card, before the start of the Prime Video pay-per-view.
“I want to get myself together first, then I will rematch him Naoya Inoue,” Fulton said. He added that he feels no pressure heading into this fight, describing himself as “just a different me”.
Since his past fight, both the boxing landscape and Fulton’s team have changed. His new lead trainer is Derek “Bozy” Ennis; it remains unclear if his former trainer Wahid Rahim will be involved. His weight division has also shifted, with Angelo Leo, who Fulton beat to win his first title, a champion. Another past opponent, Brandon Figueroa – who many believe defeated Fulton – has also moved up. Fulton provided no hints about his future plans, and focused solely on his upcoming fight. Once considered a pound-for-pound talent, his name is less frequently mentioned at all levels.
“It wouldn’t make a difference,” Fulton responded when asked if he had a preference for his next opponent. “I would like to get a title at this weight class, but it wouldn’t make a difference.”
Castro enters their fight on a three-fight winning streak after being knocked out by Brandon Figueroa in July 2022 and losing a split decision to Luis Nery earlier that year.
Fulton, as elusive as has so often been in the ring, said of future fights: “Whatever comes my way.”
That dream to rematch the dreaded Inoue could well turn out to be a horrible nightmare.
Judging from the way his fight against Inoue went; a complete domination and subsequent annihilation, one wonders why Fulton still fantasizes about a rematch.
The changes to his technical team and whatever new found confidence he has would do very little to stop another onslaught from the "Japanese Monster".
The new weight won't even be a factor.
But confronting Fulton at the moment is highly motivated 30 year old Phoenix, Arizona native Carlos Castro.
And, one of the most regrettable sins in the pugilistic universe is- overlooking an opponent- Ask Jared Anderson..
By Samuel Opoku Amoah.
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