Stephen Fulton’s trainer has expressed concerns over the way Naoya Inoue’s hands have been wrapped, stating that there has been excessive use of tape, forming a “cast”. The accusation was made during the final press conference for their upcoming fight scheduled for Tuesday, July 25th, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The trainer maintained that he would not let Fulton go through with the fight if the wrapping was not done correctly, as he sees it as a safety concern.
Inoue, popular for scoring one-punch knockouts throughout his career, could potentially have his reputation tarnished if the claims made by Fulton’s trainer about the use of excess tape turn out to be true. Fulton’s trainer vowed to scrutinize Inoue’s hand wrapping process on July 25th, questioning whether less tape would affect the power of Inoue's punches.
The trainer’s concerns may have significant financial and career implications for Fulton, as pulling out of the fight could cost him a substantial amount and possibly eliminate the chance for another fight with Inoue. Notably, Inoue showed little emotion during the conference, while Fulton appeared surprised but did not challenge his trainer’s statement.
Finally, Fulton’s trainer made it clear that they consider themselves to be “behind enemy lines”, fighting Inoue in Japan. There is a sense of anticipation about whether he will manage to convince Inoue’s team to use less tape on his hands. However, if the tape is reduced, it could potentially affect Inoue’s punching power, which could tip the scales in favor of Fulton, who is regarded as having superior boxing skills.
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