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Does Anyone Believe In Stephen Fulton Anymore?

Writer's picture: Matthew  BrownMatthew Brown

01/29/2025



Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


He’s been fucked over, left for dead, dissed and forgotten.


In a sport that celebrates its champions, just as quickly as they forget them, no fighter has had to learn this lesson more harshly than Stephen Fulton.


Once regarded as one of the brightest stars in the lower weight divisions, Fulton has watched his name fade from conversations about boxing’s elite. The road back to the top hasn’t been easy, but on February 1, under the bright lights of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he has the chance to rewrite his story.


You wouldn’t know it now, but just a few years ago, Stephen Fulton was at the pinnacle of the super bantamweight division. In 2021, he engaged in a brutal war with Brandon Figueroa, a fight that saw him emerge victorious and become the unified WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight Champion. It was a defining moment in his career.


Luck ran out. They hoped that he’d be gone, stiff and rotten.


Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


For years, Fulton chased an undisputed clash with then-WBA and IBF champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, but the fight never materialized. Instead, he set his sights on an even bigger challenge—Naoya Inoue, one of boxing’s most feared fighters.


The bout took place in July 2023, and from the opening bell, Inoue showed why he was regarded as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound kings. Fulton was overwhelmed, dominated, and ultimately stopped in the eighth round by a devastating combination.


They just pissed on him, shit on him, spit on his grave.


Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


Japanese fans applauded his courage, recognizing that he had stepped up to face one of the most dangerous men in boxing. But back home in the United States, the reaction was far different.


Instead of being lauded for taking on a formidable challenge, Fulton became the target of mockery from social media trolls. The loss followed him beyond the internet, creeping into his personal life in ways that cut deeper than any punch.


One moment, in particular, stung more than most.


“I was going to buy my mom a house and after I took my first loss my mom said, ‘Damn, there goes my house,’” Fulton shared on social media.


Talked about him, laughed behind his back, but in his face they’re some well wishers, friendly acting, envy hiding snakes with their hands out for his money. Man, how much could he take?


Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


The ridicule didn’t stop there. Even as he tried to move forward, he felt cast aside by the very platform that helped build him—Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). He spent a year out of the ring, not by choice, but by circumstance. The frustration boiled over, and he began lashing out publicly, criticizing PBC for relegating him to the undercard in his September comeback fight against Carlos Castro.


His return was a success—he won the fight—but even that victory came with a reminder of how far he had fallen in the public eye.


“As I won my last fight, which was a comeback fight for me, my oldest sister said, ‘Happy you got that win after that painful ass loss.’ It’s just me in this motherf*cker alone.”


Alone. Or so it seemed.


While Fulton may have felt isolated, he wasn’t entirely on his own. In preparation for his next chapter, he has once again brought in one of boxing’s most respected trainers—Derek “Bozy” Ennis.


Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


“Having Bozy will add to my game,” Fulton said of their partnership. “He has a different eye for things. I have a really strong corner, and it’s going to help me out.”


With Ennis by his side, Fulton has gone back to the basics, refining his technique, sharpening his skills, and regaining the confidence that once made him a champion.


And now, the time has come.


On February 1, Fulton will stand across the ring from an opponent he knows all too well—Brandon Figueroa. Their first battle was a war of attrition, with Figueroa applying relentless pressure and Fulton countering with sharp, disciplined boxing. The result was a narrow win for Fulton, a decision that Figueroa still disputes to this day.


“We were familiar with each other before the first fight because we were on a collision course for a while,” Fulton recalled. “He did a good job in the first fight because he fought his fight. He knows how to fight the way he fights. And I did an amazing job making the adjustments that I had to make.”


Even in victory, Fulton wasn’t fully satisfied with his performance.


“I give myself a B- for the first fight,” he admitted. “I was actually tired after the second round. I had to thug it out that fight. That’s what people don’t understand. The weight was tough for me. People say it’s an excuse, but they don’t know how our bodies respond. I didn’t make weight the proper way. I had to really bite down and dig deep.”


He embrace y’all with napalm


Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


It’s round 13 against an old rival. This time, there are no weight struggles. Fulton believes that moving up in weight will benefit both fighters, but especially him.


“He’s not gonna be able to push me around. He’s gonna try, but I’m strong. A lot of people don’t realize that. Being at a higher weight class for the rematch is gonna help both of us. I want that belt. That’s why the rematch happened.”


Unlike their first meeting, only Figueroa holds a title this time—the WBC Featherweight Championship. Fulton wants that belt, and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to get it.


How can Scooter be garbage?


Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton


For Fulton, this fight is about more than just a championship. It’s about proving his worth to a boxing world that has seemingly turned its back on him. It’s about silencing the doubters—those on social media, those in the industry, and even those within his own family.


With Bozy Ennis in his corner and a renewed sense of purpose, Fulton knows what he must do.


“I just have to listen to my corner and do what they tell me to do. I’m gonna trust in my defense and believe in myself.”


Once a unified world champion, he now finds himself fighting not just for another title, but for respect—both from the boxing industry and even from those closest to him.


Does anyone, other than himself, believe in Stephen Fulton anymore? Maybe not. But on February 1, he has the chance to make them believe again.


The king is back. Where his crown at?


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