While Addressing Naoya Inoue’s Hand-Wrap Controversy, Stephen Fulton’s Trainer Threatens to Withdraw from Fight Over Safety Concern

In a highly anticipated bout, two world champions, Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton jr are set to collide on Tuesday, July 25th, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. With Inoue moving up a weight class to pursue his fourth division title, and Fulton defending his championship, the stage is set for an epic showdown between two elite fighters.

The anticipation surrounding this fight has reached new heights, as both boxers bring an impressive resume of skills. Inoue, aptly nicknamed “Monster” for his devastating one-punch knockouts, has remained undefeated in his professional career. amassing 24 victories, with 21 of them coming by way of knockout. Fulton, on the other hand, boasts an impressive record of 21 wins and no losses. While lacking the brute force of Inoue, the ‘Cool Boy’ compensates with exceptional boxing skill and ring intelligence. However, amid the excitement and anticipation, concerns have been raised by Stephen Fulton’s trainer, Wahid Rahim.

Stephen Fulton’s trainer takes a stand amid Naoya Inoue’s hand-wrap controversy

During the final press conference, Rahim expressed apprehension about how Naoya Inoue’s hands have been wrapped in past fights. He alleged that excessive tape has been used, creating a “cast” on Inoue’s fists. This practice known as loading is illegal in the sport and has raised safety concerns for Fulton’s team, fearing the potential impact on the fight’s outcome and their fighter’s well-being. Moreover, Rahim has even contemplated pulling out of this fight due to this.

“I have a safety concern that I would like to address. In previous fights, Inoue and his team have wrapped his hands with an excessive amount of tape on his skin then placing gauze and more tape which creates a cast.” he said.

Rahim’s accusations of Inoue loading his gloves before fights have certainly raised concerns. However, the challenge lies in the difficulty of proving past instances of excessive hand wrapping. Unlike other forms of rule violations, the extent of hand wrapping is often only evident during the process itself. With no concrete evidence of prior violations, the validity of Rahim’s concerns remains uncertain. Despite this, the trainer has proof that ‘The Monster’s’ team is not playing by the rules.

Fulton’s trainer vows to show concrete evidence against Naoya Inoue

Rahim also claimed that his accusations were not dumbfounded but were backed by evidence. He added that while he could also do the same thing and load Fulton’s gloves, the safety of fighters was a much larger concern. For him, this was even greater than having a  rematch clause in the contract or fighting in enemy territory.

Read More: “Tough Break”: Fans Heartbroken as Unfortunate Naoya Inoue News Takes Boxing World by Storm

“This is not an assumption. I have proof. We could also wrap our hands in the same fashion, but where is the level of safety for the fighter? If this issue isn’t resolved, I will not allow my fighter into the ring. We are already behind enemy lines, we have made no requests, nothing at all. We have not even asked for a rematch clause. This is the only request that I’m demanding” he said.

The controversy surrounding hand wraps is not new to the sport of boxing. In the past, certain fighters have been accused of exploiting lax regulations to gain an advantage. As the fight date approaches, the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome of this hand-wrapping saga. Will Inoue’s punching power remain undeterred, or will the adjustments in his hand wraps have an impact on his performance? Only time will tell.

What did you think about Fulton’s trainer gearing to pull out if the hand wraps issue is not solved? Let us know in the comments.

Watch This Story: Stephen Fulton vs. Naoya Inoue: Date, Time, Venue, Tickets, and Livestream