Stephen Fulton Calls Defeat “The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”
27 Sep
WBC Featherweight champion Stephen Fulton has reflected on his bout against undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, admitting that the loss ultimately made him stronger.
The 31-year-old American said the experience gave him greater mental resilience and taught him how to better manage his emotions.
“I would say I gained more than I lost mentally. It allowed me to fight better, at least that’s how I feel. Going into fights with a different mindset — that’s the best thing that could have happened to me. But the loss was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Now I don’t walk around angry about things I can’t control. I’ve learned how to handle different situations. I know what to expect from people — in the ring, outside the ring, from the media, from the whole process of preparation.
I now know how to carry myself. It showed me not to waste energy on things beyond my control and not to worry. I gained a lot psychologically, and if my mind is in harmony, then my fight is perfect. So I only gained from this, I can’t say I lost anything,” Fulton said.
In his July 2023 clash with Naoya Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs), Stephen Fulton (23-1, 8 KOs) suffered the only defeat of his career, losing by eighth-round TKO.