Set for next month at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Naoya Inoue will square off against unified super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton in a huge summer boxing bout. While SBS has covered some of the specifics of this bout before, this article will focus on the prop bet of whether or not this fight will “go the distance.” For those not familiar with the term, this basically means if the fight will go the standard 12 rounds or if it will end in a stoppage of some kind (KO, TKO, etc.). With both fighters exhibiting some fantastic knockout ability, especially Inoue with his 21 career knockout wins, this is an interesting wagering option and one that should have a lot of action in this contest. Indeed, with multiple titles on the line, this should be a must-watch contest in addition to all the prop bets around the fight.
For this article, SBS will be going over the prop bet option explained above, a predicted outcome, and also cover some more notes about boxing wagers.
This contest, as highlighted in our prior preview article on SBS, will be between two accomplished and undefeated fighters. With that in mind, it is hard to predict whether or not one of these fighters will go down via TKO or KO. That said, this should be a great matchup since both fighters have shown that they scorn defeat and are among the best in the world in their weight classes.
Fulton has been recognized by some outlets in the past as the No. 1 junior featherweight in the world and has been the title holder for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles since 2021. Conversely, Inoue is a three-division world champion and the former undisputed bantamweight world champion. That said, the latter will be fighting a champion who is dropping down a weight class, which might mitigate some of his sensational stopping power.
The biggest reason why this fight will end before the 12 rounds are up is because of Inoue’s sensational stopping power. As mentioned above, the Japanese fighter has won an astounding 21 of his 24 professional fights by way of some sort of stoppage. The last time he won a bout that did not end in a knockout was back in November of 2019 against Nonito Donaire. Since then he has won five fights in a row by way of KO or TKO, including a second-round clobbering of Donaire in June of last year.
Additionally, while this bout features two fighters battling at the peak of their powers, it is interesting to note that Fulton has won more of his bouts via decision and not a stoppage. With that in mind, this contest between the “slugger and a boxer” will serve as a great case study of what should be prioritized more at the bantamweight level: scoring consistent points or aiming for the knockout. Moreover, with this being Fulton’s first fight outside of the United States, it bodes well for an Inoue knockout.
Prediction: Inoue has a sensational knockout ratio of 88% so while this fight will be a ferociously contested one, expect “The Monster” to score another stoppage victory.
Once you are all squared away regarding the latest boxing wagers this month, make sure to check out the wide variety of resources that SBS has put together for you. For more information on the sport mentioned in this article, check out the SBS boxing betting sites rundown which covers the latest boxing betting markets and also the latest news on the sport as well. Of course, if you are interested in supercharging your bets like we all are, then the SBS best bonus betting sites guide is a must-read. On this handy page, you can find the latest welcome bonus offers available to you and tips for getting the most out of promotions. Finally, for those interested in some higher-stakes wagering, our VIP sports betting sites breakdown is a great read on finding out if this is right for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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