Carlos Castro is extra motivated to upset Stephen Fulton

Carlos Castro will look to spoil Stephen Fulton Jr.’s return from a 14-month layoff in a featherweight clash headlining a three-fight PBC prelim card on Saturday, September 14, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. 

The bout serves as the lead-in to the pay-per-view portion of the night’s card.

Castro (30-2, 14 KOs), a 30-year-old veteran from Phoenix, is eager to prove himself in what could be the biggest fight of his career. Despite flying under the radar, Castro’s only two losses have come in consecutive bouts against titleholders Luis Nery and Brandon Figueroa, with the latter stopping him in 2022.

“I don’t shy away from anybody,” Castro said at Thursday’s undercard press conference. “It has prepared me mentally and physically, knowing what I have to do and what I’m capable of in the ring. Stephen Fulton, you have to take your hat off to him. I asked for this opportunity, and I thank him and his team for it. But Saturday night, it’s a different story when two great fighters step in front of each other.”

Fulton (21-1, 8 KOs), also 30 and regarded as the best junior featherweight in the world before his stoppage loss to Naoya Inoue in July 2023, is seeking redemption in his official debut at featherweight. The Philadelphia native Fultons holds victories over current featherweight champions Figueroa and Angelo Leo and now aims to establish himself in the new division.

“He was the best 122-pound fighter,” Castro said. “So beating Stephen Fulton would mean a lot.”

Castro added that the magnitude of the fight card provides extra motivation.

“Of course, being in fights like this gives you that extra push,” Castro said. “Competing against fighters like Fulton and being on the undercard of Canelo-Berlanga is a dream come true. I’m just going to go out there and give it my best.”

When asked what fans can expect, Castro kept it straightforward: “A great fight.”