It’s been an interesting past couple of years in the sweet science for Stephen Fulton Jr.
July 2023 had him suffering his first professional loss in an eighth-round TKO at the hands of “The Monster” Naoya Inoue in Tokyo, Japan, in their unifying super bantamweight world championship fight.
After nearly 14 months, “Cool Boy Steph” returned to the ring in his featherweight debut to deliver a split-decision victory over Carlos Castro last September.
Now, Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) attempts to defeat WBC featherweight world champion Brandon Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fulton edged Figueroa by majority decision to become a unified super bantamweight world champ in November 2021. Defeating him again, would crown him world champion in a different division and extend the 30-year-old’s life in the sweet science.
“It’s giving me another opportunity to become world champion,” Fulton told DAZN News during a recent Zoom session. “It’d mean a lot — a second weight division. That means both of the weight divisions I fought in, I became world champion. That’s legacy to me.”
When the two clashed nearly four years ago, judges credited Fulton for his cleaner, more accurate punching, though Figueroa was the aggressor with a higher punch count. Leading up to Saturday night’s fight, Figueroa has shared the ambition to produce a knockout of Fulton to avenge the only blemish on his pro ledger.
Divulging that desire is a mistake, according to Fulton.
“He’s giving up his gameplan,” Fulton said. “He’s going to fight the same way as he always do.
“On his behalf,” he continued, “it will go the same way.”
Fulton has been somewhat of a quiet storm since being devastated by Inoue. He told DAZN News that the defeat taught him to internalize his thoughts more, among other lessons.
“Just listen to myself,” he said, mentioning it as his biggest takeaway from Japan. “Train a little harder. I could have trained a little harder. It was a good experience.”
Following that inner voice led to a rebounding victory over Castro last fall and another win over Figueroa would propel “Cool Boy Steph” back to the top of boxing.
The fact that he’s been installed as an underdog with most Vegas oddsmakers doesn’t draw his ire.
“At this point in my career and life, I don’t really care,” Fulton said. “Those things don’t bother or worry me. I don’t really care about being an underdog or if this person thinks I’m going to lose or win. I don’t care about those things anymore. I’m past that in my boxing career. I’m at a different stage.
“I’m a different person, a changed person,” he continued. “I let the people talk. I motivate myself.”
Fulton might have a lot more to say if he’s able to deliver a convincing win over Figueroa to become a world champion again.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. Eyes will be on me again, so I have to show out, be me, have fun and get the job done,” he said.
Fulton, a Philly native, says he’s gotten words of encouragement from former world champion Danny Garcia and star wide receiver A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles, who will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on February 9.
“They all gave me motivation to continue doing what I’m doing now,” Fulton disclosed.
The Eagles and Fulton would of course like nothing more than to be crowned champions in back-to-back weekends.
For Fulton to carry out his end of the bargain, he’ll have to defeat a younger, hungry Figueroa, 28, for the second time.
“The main objective is to get the job done,” Fulton said. “Then we could really discuss [whatever’s next].”
The winner’s circle in the center of the ring would mark an apt time to expound.
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