From main event to prelims: Stephen Fulton looks forward to being back

LAS VEGAS – The last time Stephen Fulton was in the ring, it was in front of a packed crowd at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo as he and Naoya Inoue battled for undisputed supremacy at 122 pounds. That night in Japan, 14 months ago, did not work out in Fulton’s favor, as the Philadelphian succumbed to the ferocious offense of “The Monster” and fell in an eighth-round stoppage.

But many a first-class boxer has failed to overcome Inoue, and prior to that loss, Fulton was undefeated and coming off a series of wins against Daniel Roman, Brandon Figueroa and Angelo Leo – the last of which, in particular, looks even better in light of Leo’s spectacular knockout of Luis Alberto Lopez to claim a featherweight belt last month.

So, while recognizing that a comeback has to begin somewhere, Fulton (21-1, 8 KOs) is a little miffed that he is not just on the undercard of Saturday’s super middleweight main event between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga at T-Mobile Arena but buried on it so deeply that he isn’t featuring on the four-fight pay-per-view. Instead, he will be in one of three fights airing for free on Amazon Prime Video before the main card kicks off. And the normally affable Fulton allows himself a frown as he admits that, yes, he feels a little disrespected.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t,” he told BoxingScene at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Thursday. “That’s just me being honest. I went from four main events to now on the prelims, for my first time ever. It doesn’t make sense. How you go from four headline bouts back-to-back-to-back? Never was on the prelims, but now, after one loss, you’re on the prelim. So, it’s like it makes you look at things different, no matter how they say they want to rebuild me. It comes off as disrespect.”

He is keen to point out, however, that he isn’t carrying a chip around on his shoulder. It is what it is, and he knows that the way back to the top is by winning, beginning with Saturday’s featherweight bout against Carlos Castro (30-2, 14 KOs).

“I’m in a good space right now,” he said. “That’s where I want to keep it. When I’m not in a good space, you can feel the negative energy, and I don’t like giving off negative energy.”

Nor does he worry that his positioning on the card means he has to go out and prove a point.

“I don’t have to prove anything or do any of that stuff,” he said. “I just want to fight, see how I feel, enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy being back.”

Kieran Mulvaney has written, broadcast and podcasted about boxing for HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Reuters, among other outlets. He also writes regularly for National Geographic, has written several books on the Arctic and Antarctic, and is at his happiest hanging out with wild polar bears. His website is www.kieranmulvaney.com.