Naoya Inoue is a champion in four different weights

Naoya Inoue it is of another species. ‘the monster’, it is difficult to put a more accurate alias, there is no opposition. 25 wins, 22 on the fast track and no losses. He is now world champion in four different divisions, a milestone reached by a select few. At the age of 30, he is rubbing shoulders with legends like sugar ray leonard, Floyd Mayweather either Manny Pacquiao.

Using an abnormal punch for the category and a devilish speed, he topped the pound-for-pound rankings with a hammer blow. Mark is over 55 kilos on the scale, his punch defies physics. He is on a six-knockout streak and has not heard a decision from the judges since 2019, when he defeated the legend Nonito Donaire.

He ended up knocking out ‘The Filipino Flash’ in the second round of the rematch. Since then no one has forced him to fight twelve rounds. Horrifyingly, 85% of his victories were through chloroform. The Japanese became the first undisputed bantamweight champion and the first Japanese to unify the four bodies after defeating Paul Butler by knockout in the eleventh.

The next step is Stephen Fulton, monarch of the super bantamweight, was also no match and fell to eighth. The American is the second undefeated fighter after Dominican Juan Carlos Payano. He has beaten everyone who was placed on the other corner of the rope. He only faced one rival with a negative record. The combined balance of all his rivals when facing him -620 wins and 75 losses- shows the Japanese’s formidable level.

Inoue, who had only 25 fights as a professional, became part of an elite group of boxers, world champions in four divisions. He dominated at light flyweight, flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight. Only 15 fighters, including ‘El Monstruo’ have achieved this.

Thomas Hearns; Sugar Ray Leonard; Roberto Duran; Pernell Whitaker; Oscar de la hoya; Leo Gamez; Roy Jones Jr.; Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Manny Pacquiao; Eric Morales; Jorge Arce; Nonito Donaire; Juan Manuel Márquez and Miguel Cotto did it. Only Mayweather has retired undefeated.

Inoue defeated American Stephen Fulton by KO in the eighth round to capture the WBC and WBO super bantamweight belts on Tuesday at the Ariake Arena in Japan.

‘The Monster’ (25-0) defeated Fulton (21-1) early on, nullified the American’s proposal and once again showed, more than any rival before him. He became a champion in the fourth division and once again proved himself as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

Inoue started by taking the initiative, taking the middle of the string and feinting with his lead hand. The Japanese, skilled with his legs as usual, left Fulton at a distance, unable to land a long combination.

‘El Monstruo’ worked a direct left, varying his height to keep his distance and close him against the ropes. Inoue held his own comfortably in the middle distance against a Fulton who seemed to lack the speed to hold off the Japanese onslaught.

For the third chapter the American came out to respect. He sought the center of the ring and tried to connect more strongly with the waterline. Inoue accepted the challenge. The Japanese champion was also comfortable on the counterattack, first starting combinations inside and then landing a right hand on the guard of the super bantamweight monarch.

The electric boxing of the Japanese made Fulton desperate. Not only did Inoue pass or avoid all the hands he was thrown, but he also responded to the American’s attacks very quickly. For every hit from Fulton ‘The Monster’ he returned two.

Japanese body work was also key to stopping the Americans. In the middle of the match, Inoue landed 18 significant blows in the central zone for 6 of a Fulton who desperately sought to close the distance to nullify the mobility of his rival. Nothing can be done before the supremacy of the challenger.

Inoue closed in on Fulton in the eighth round to finish him off with punches in the corner. The Japanese overwhelmed with his hit volume a Fulton who showed his face but seemed to be two steps down.

Inoue, who had 22 fast-track victories in 25 fights, was crowned champion in four different divisions. He is the WBC light flyweight, WBO super flyweight, WBA bantamweight, IBF bantamweight, WBA bantamweight and now the WBC and WBO super bantamweight world champion.