Both World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton of the United States and top-ranked challenger Naoya ‘’the Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym cleared the weigh-ins, respectively on July 24 at a hotel in Yokohama, setting the stage for their clash the following day at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.

  The 29-year-old Fulton tipped the scales at the class limit of 55.3 kg (122 lbs.), whereas the 30-year-old Inoue weighed in at 55.2 kg.

  After the weigh-ins, they did customary face-off at a very close distance for a long time. While both were asked to face the front, Inoue kept glaring at Fulton.

  After the faceoff, Inoue told reporters, ‘’I am fired up. I was upset a little bit because I felt he was looking down on me. I am 120 percent prepared as I have built up the body by putting on muscles suitable for super bantamweight.’’

  WBO President Francisco Valcarcel of Puerto Rico, Bob Arum of the U.S. who is one of the founders of Top Rank Inc., and popular ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. of the U.S. were also at present.

  If Inoue wins, he will become Japan’s second boxer to win world titles in four different weight divisions following reigning World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym.

  The scheduled 12-round title fight was postponed from the initially scheduled May 7 due to Inoue’s fist injuries during training in early March.

The undefeated Fulton has 21 straight wins, including eight knockouts. Inoue is also undefeated in his 24 bouts, including 21 KOs.　

It will be Fulton’s second defense of the WBC title he won in November 2021 and his third WBO crown he captured in January that year.

Meanwhile, WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba and 11^th-ranked challenger Satoshi Shimizu of Ohashi gym also cleared their weigh-ins as each weighed in at 57.0 kg, 0.1 kg lighter than the featherweight limit.

The fight will serve as the chief supporting card for the Fulton-Inoue championship bout.

The 29-year-old Ramirez, who has been fighting out of the U.S. as he defected to the U.S. in 2018, has a professional record of 12 wins, including seven knockouts, against a loss (in his debut). For his part, the 37-year-old Shimizu has an 11-1 win-loss tally with 10 KOs.