There are only two world champions at 122 pounds.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev holds the IBF and WBA (super) titles, while Stephen Fulton Jr. holds the WBC and WBO belts. Both have fights coming up. Akhmadaliev put his gold on the line against Ronny Rios on June 25, which you can see live on DAZN. On the other hand, Fulton returns on Saturday to face the guy Akhmadaliev beat in January 2020 to become the unified champion, Daniel Roman.
They fought eight days apart in November. Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) won by unanimous decision over Jose Velasquez. Then it was Fulton's turn, defeating Brandon Figueroa. A four-belt unification could have happened already. Instead, they are in separate bouts three weeks apart to begin their 2022 campaigns. If both guys get through their respective foes, Akhmadaliev and Fulton should lock horns to determine who is the best at junior featherweight. Fulton couldn't agree more.
"That's what it's about," Fulton admitted to DAZN. "I'm not playing. I'm not here to play no more. I'm not here to bulls— around. Let’s make it happen."
Fulton, DAZN's No. 9-ranked men's pound-for-pound fighter, wasn't disappointed he couldn't have already gotten Akhmadaliev in the ring. Instead, he takes care of business against Roman, and those talks will ramp up if Akhmadaliev can handle his end with Rios.
"No, I didn't care," Fulton bluntly said about not making Akhmadaliev in early 2022. "I honestly didn't care at that moment. It is what it is. Let's face him (Roman). And then once we beat him, we can try to go for it again to become undisputed."
Roman (29-3-1, 10 KOs) is no slouch. He isn't a former two-belt 122-pound champion because he isn't any good. Despite his accolades, Fulton dismisses Roman and thinks Figueroa will end up being the more challenging test for him.
"Hell no," Fulton emphatically said about Roman being the tougher fight. "Because he’s not going to bring that type of pressure and that type of fight to me like my last. My last fight was the hardest one."