Not So Cool Boy: The Return of Stephen Fulton

Stephen Fulton is back, finally.

The last time boxing fans saw Stephen Fulton in the boxing ring, he was being waived off by referee, Hector Afu at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Fulton was in the midst of suffering his first career defeat, an eighth-round TKO loss to Japanese superstar, Naoya Inoue. The loss ended Fulton’s reign as unified super bantamweight champion, and his string of very impressive victories over the best the division had to offer.

In the high-stakes world of professional boxing, the spotlight often shines brightest on those who have tasted both glory and defeat. “Cool Boy Steph,” Stephen Fulton Jr., a name that once reverberated with the aura of an unbeaten champion, now finds himself at a critical juncture in his career. As he prepares to make his return to the ring, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the challenges ahead couldn’t be more daunting. This is the classic boxing tale of a fighter’s resilience, determination, and quest for redemption.

Stephen Fulton’s ascent in the boxing world was nothing short of spectacular. Hailing from the tough streets of Philadelphia, a city with a rich boxing heritage, Fulton quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the super bantamweight division. In 2015, in his eighth professional fight, he won a majority decision over fellow undefeated prospect, Joshua Greer, Jr. Two years later, he beat Adam “Blu Nose” Lopez, another undefeated prospect. Fulton went on to defeat two more undefeated fighters, in Isaac Avelar and Arnold Khegai. His early career was marked by a series of dominant performances, characterized by his slick boxing skills, defensive prowess, and an unflinching resolve inside the ring.

Fulton’s first taste of major success came in January 2021, when he captured the WBO Super Bantamweight Championship, with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Angelo Leo. The fight showcased Fulton’s ability to adapt, as he outworked Leo on the inside, showing boxing fans his versatility as a fighter. The victory catapulted him into the upper echelons of the division. Leo would go on to stop Luis Alberto Lopez, capturing Lopez’s IBF World Featherweight title.

In his very next fight, Fulton stepped into the ring for a unification bout against his biggest rival, WBC champion Brandon Figueroa. What ensued was a modern day, super bantamweight classic. Fulton and Figueroa engaged in a brutal, back and forth battle, where Fulton was ultimately declared the victor and the new WBC and WBO unified Super Bantamweight Champion of the world. The split decision win over Figueroa was one of the most thrilling fights of the year, and solidified Fulton’s reputation as one of the best fighters in the world.

Fulton spent the next two years of his career unsuccessfully chasing an undisputed title fight with WBA and IBF unified super bantamweight champion, Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Akhmadaliev showed zero interest in making the undisputed clash, robbing Fulton and boxing fans of a big, important fight, and huge event. It took undisputed bantamweight champion, Naoya Inoue, the Japanese phenom with a fearsome reputation as a knockout artist, arriving in the division for Fulton to get the chance to add another huge scalp to his résumé.

The negotiations between Fulton and Inoue were seamless, a testament to the thirst for greatness that has defined the careers of both fighters. Fulton, as unified champion, made the unusual concession of going on the road to Tokyo and forgoing a rematch clause. Inoue, as the cash cow in the lower weight classes, did not try to get every penny that he could’ve and made sure Fulton was paid handsomely for the bout. Both guys wanted the fight, so the fight got done. The bout was one of the most anticipated matchups of the year, pitting Fulton’s technical brilliance against Inoue’s power and precision.

However, the fight did not go as planned for Fulton. Inoue proved why he was one of the most feared fighters in the sport, dominating Fulton from the opening bell. In the eighth round, Inoue unleashed a devastating combination that left Fulton on the canvas, unable to continue. The loss was not only a blow to Fulton’s unblemished record but also a humbling experience for a fighter who had been at the pinnacle of the sport. Despite the loss, Fulton earned the respect of boxing fans worldwide.

For many fighters, a loss of this magnitude can be career-altering, leading to questions about their future in the sport. But Stephen Fulton is not just any fighter. Known for his mental toughness and unwavering confidence, Fulton immediately set his sights on returning to the top.

However, in the months following the defeat, Fulton’s career stalled, leaving the usually vibrant Fulton, disgruntled. With Paramount’s decision to pull the plug on the entire Showtime Sports division, Fulton’s promotional outlet, PBC, was left without a network deal. This left Fulton to take a forced, but much needed vacation from the sport of boxing.

When PBC inked a new multi-year deal with Amazon Prime, it was time to go back to work. In the ensuing months, Fulton got back in the gym, working tirelessly to refine his skills, addressing the shortcomings that led to his loss against Inoue.

Fulton was tabbed for a spot on the June, Gervonta Davis-David Benavidez PBC on Prime PPV supercard. Those plans were dashed after all of Fulton’s potential opponents pulled out with injuries. Fulton then said that his in-ring return would be in July; however, those plans fell through with no public explanation. Next up was a confirmed August 17 co-feature spot on an Amazon Prime card, headlined by Caleb Plant. An injury suffered by Plant’s opponent led to the cancellation of the date, leaving Fulton without a fight once again.

Frustrated and disappointed, Fulton began to lash out on social media. The constant setbacks have clearly taken a toll on Fulton. It’s understandable. Fighters want to fight. That is especially true for Fulton. Coming off of the biggest event of his career, albeit a loss, Fulton had newfound notoriety and momentum. The stop and start nature of his career after the Inoue event has Fulton rightfully feeling that the momentum has been squandered.

Fulton finally returns to the ring on September 14, after a fourteen month layoff, to face contender Carlos Castro (30-2, 14KOs). Now a featherweight, Fulton will be the main event of the prelims on the PBC on Prime PPV card headlined by Mexican superstar, Canelo Alvarez.

The official announcement came at an August 5 kickoff press conference in New York, where a noticeably somber, almost despondent Fulton was in attendance. Fulton did say that it felt good to be back, but you wouldn’t have known it if you were judging by his behavior at the press conference. Fulton was very short with his answers. When asked about his somber mood, Fulton simply replied, “I’ve been through some things. It’ll play out in the ring in September.” After the official press conference, Fulton blew off the boxing media, leaving early and refusing to participate in the media scrums.

The unusual behavior of Fulton was a hot topic amongst the assembled boxing media in New York and fans all over social media. A source told Brunch Boxing that the reason for Fulton’s mood was that he was unhappy at his placement on the card. Fulton wanted to be on the main card instead of the preliminaries. Adding to his frustration was that Fulton didn’t know that he was going to be on the prelims until he had arrived at the presser. Upon finding out, Fulton took to social media to express his discontent with a simple middle finger emoji.

While Fulton may look at being on the prelims as a slap in the face, PBC doesn’t see it that way. PBC looks at Fulton as integral to the success of this massive event. The company has gone so far as to give Fulton’s fight its very own poster. The line of thinking is that a big name like Fulton will attract fans to Amazon Prime and hopefully entice them to purchase the Canelo-Berlanga PPV.

In an informal appearance on the Brunch Boxing platform, PBC PR Director, Kenneth Bouhairie expressed his love and admiration for Fulton. This is a common sentiment amongst the people within the PBC organization. It appears that everyone at the company has a great deal of respect for Fulton and believes that Fulton is one of the faces of the company. In an interview with the Boxing Esq. Podcast, PBC VP of Communications, Tim Smith identified Fulton, along with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, David Benavidez and Tim Tszyu as the stars that will carry PBC for years to come.

With guys Brandon Figueroa, Luis Nery and Rey Vargas in the mix, Stephen Fulton has a plethora of big matchups and events in his future. The featherweight division is currently one of the most competitive in boxing. The biggest matchup, however, is a rematch with “The Monster” Naoya Inoue. It’s a matchup that Fulton has his eye on. At a media event in his hometown of Philadelphia, Fulton was quoted as saying, “I want to get myself together first, then I will rematch him.”

Getting himself together starts with his September 14 clash with Carlos Castro. While the discontent outside of the ring has been talked about ad nauseum, it hasn’t manifested itself in the ring. All reports are that Fulton is locked in and ready to make a statement in his comeback fight.

Fulton will have to contend with the psychological impact of his loss to Inoue. In boxing, confidence is key, and it remains to be seen how the defeat will affect Fulton’s mindset as he steps back into the ring. Will he be able to shake off the memories of that fateful night in July and fight with the same self-assurance that made him a champion? Or will doubts creep in, affecting his performance?

Fulton believes in himself, at least publicly, saying, “I can go as far as I want to go in this division, it’s just up to me.” Fulton’s return is not just about reclaiming a title; it’s about restoring his pride and proving to the world that he is still one of the best in boxing. His upcoming fight with Carlos Castro will be a test of his resolve and his ability to bounce back from adversity.

Stephen Fulton’s legacy is still being written, and his highly anticipated return to the ring will be a pivotal chapter in his career. While his undefeated record is now a thing of the past, Fulton has the opportunity to define himself not just by his victories, but by how he responds to defeat. A successful comeback could elevate him to legendary status, while another setback could signal the beginning of the end for a once-promising career.

For Fulton, the return is about more than just boxing; it’s about personal redemption. It’s about proving to himself, his fans, and the boxing world that he is still the “Cool Boy Steph” who can outbox and outsmart the best in the division. As he prepares to step back into the ring, all eyes will be on him, waiting to see if he can reclaim his place among the sport’s elite. Whether he will rise again or falter under the weight of expectation remains to be seen.