By Ken Hissner: Before a packed Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Japan, Tuesday over ESPN+ Hideyuki Ohashi (Ohashi Promotions), Bob Arum (Top Rank) Main Event highly regarded unbeaten 3-division world champion and current IBF, WBC, WBO World and WBA Super World Bantamweight champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue added another division title his fourth twice dropping previously unbeaten WBC and WBO Super World Bantamweight champion “Cool Boy Steph” Stephen Fulton for the latter’s world title in the eighth round.
In the co-Main Event 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist in 2012 and 2016 WBO Featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez stopped 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist Satoshi Shimizu in five rounds.
In the Main Event IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA Super World Bantam champ Naoya “Monster” Inoue, 24-0 (21), #121 ¾, of Yokohama, Kanagawa, JAP, WBC and WBO Super World Bantam champ “Cool Boy Steph” Stephen Fulton, 21-0 (8), #122, of Philadelphia, PA, at 1:14 of the eighth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round it was mostly feeling out for half a round before Inoue started landing punches. He was warned twice by Referee Hector Afu for fouls. He dominated the round. In the second round Inoue continued coming forward on the attack and in the final minute landed a pair of rights on the chin of the defensive minded Fulton. He did a little showboating to the crowd.
In the third round Fulton finally landed a right hand hesitating to open up though coming forward. Inoue drew blood from the nose of Fulton with a right winning another round. In the fourth round Inoue continued dominating as Fulton finally landed a combination in the final minute of another losing round. In the fifth round it was a better one for Fulton but in the final minute Inoue landed a good combination to the chin of Fulton whose nose started bleeding again losing another round.
In the sixth round Inoue starting using some body work following a solid jab. In the final minute he landed a combination hurting Fulton to the chin. In the seventh round after a minute Fulton landed his best punch so far a right on the chin of Inoue. Inoue would continue coming forward landing punches as the fans started clapping for a short period. It was another round for Inoue.
In the eighth round Inoue hurt and then landed a right as Fulton’s glove touched the canvas with a right followed with a right dropping Fulton as referee Afu stepped in giving Fulton an 8-count. Inoue immediately went on the attack driving Fulton into a corner with a barrage of punches dropping Fulton as referee Afu was stepping in for the stoppage.
In co-feature 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and WBO World Feather champ southpaw Robeisy Ramirez, 13-1 87), #125.7, of Cienfuegos, CUBA and Las Vegas, NV, impressed in stopping 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist southpaw Satoshi Shimizu, 11-2 (10), #125.7, of Yokohama, Kanagawa, JAP, at 1:08 of the fifth round of a scheduled 12 rounds scoring a knockdown.
In the first round the taller southpaw by 6” Shimizu used a good jab while southpaw Ramirez rocked him midway with a left uppercut to the chin. In the second and third rounds Ramirez got passed the height of Shimizu out landing him and finishing each round much stronger than Shimizu.
In the fourth round Shimizu did better but not enough to win the round due to uppercuts by Ramirez. In the fifth round Ramirez came out throwing punch after punch landing half a dozen punches hurting Shimizu who went on the defense.
Ramirez landed nine unanswered punches driving Shimizu back and down for an 8-count from Referee Ramon Pena. Blood coming from his nose and mouth Shimizu got up but Ramirez went on the attack forcing referee Pena to wisely call a halt with no complaint from Shimizu.
Light Fly Kanamu Sakama, 8-0 (7), #107 ½, of Tokyo, JAP, stopped Ryu Horikawa, 3-2-2 (1), #108, of Tokyo, JAP, at 2:40 of the eighth round of a scheduled 8 rounds.
Referee Tetsuya lida.
Super Bantam Ronnie Baldonado, 16-5-1 (9), #117 ½, of Carmen, Cotabato, PH, knocked out by Yoshiki Takei, 7-0 (7), #118 ¾, of Yokohama, Kanagawa, JAP, at 1:08 of the third round of a scheduled 8 rounds.
Referee Toshio Suglyama.
Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr.