Via Adam Baskin: Promoter Eddie Hearn said there was “no hitch” in doing the undisputed fight between undefeated IBF/WBA super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev and the next WBC/WBO champion Stephen Fulton Jr. in a four-belt championship.
Boxing Matchroom promoter Hearn wants that and his boxer Akhmadaliev (11-0.8 KOs) should be ready for the clash as soon as his injured left side heals from the knockout win impressive in round 12 against Ronny Rios last Saturday night at Techport Arena in San Antonio, Texas.
As long as the promoters of the two boxers don’t get in the way of the fight, this is a must-have match. Until Naoya Inoue reached 122, Akhmadaliev vs. Fulton Jr is the best fight ever done at super bantamweight.
Inoue will most likely advance after he becomes undisputed at the age of 118. He only needs the WBO belt held by Paul Butler to complete that task.
2016 Olympic bronze medalist Akhmadaliev fought with one hand last Saturday night in his title defense against #1 WBA Ronny Rios. From the second round, nampaw Akhmadaliev, 27, only used his hand to stab Rios.
In the 12th round, Akhmadaliev attacked Rios with hard hits with leverage and right into the breadbasket, injuring him and pushing him onto the frame. After Rios bravely climbed off the deck, Akhmadaliev finished him off with several big punches that caused the referee to step in and send him off.
Not required, right? Let’s make this happen https://t.co/r8V01mJudJ
– 100 billion (@coolboysteph) June 26, 2022
“Easy work. The serious note we need unquestionably at the end of the year“Fulton said.
Undefeated WBC/WBO super bantamweight champion Fulton (21-0.8 KOs) recently defeated former IBF/WBC 122-lb champion Danny Roman by a 12-round unanimous decision undefeated earlier this month on June 4 at Armory, Minneapolis. The fight was shown on Showtime.
What could hinder the fight between Akhmadaliev and Fulton is the network issue. Fulton fights on Showtime, while Akhmadaliev joins DAZN. Unless those networks can agree to a deal, we may not see this stellar fight.
Fulton Jr has been looking great lately with solid wins over Roman, Brandon Figueroa, Angelo Leo, Arnold Khegai, Isaac Avelar and Paulus Ambunda.
Akhmadaliev will have a power advantage over Fulton, but he will drop hand speed over the slick right-handed boxer.
At the 2016 Olympics, Akhmadaliev struggled with the skills of Ireland’s Michael Conlan, losing in three decisive innings.
Although Akhmadaliev got Conlan in the third round to take him down hard, he ran out of time and couldn’t get the job done.
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