Naoya Inoue scores spectacular knockout over Stephen Fulton, captures super bantamweight world title

An old boxing adage. Use the jab to set up your offense.

And, when you have the power of new WBC and WBO junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue, you can get it done quickly.

Inoue, now a four-division titleholder, explosively stopped former champion Stephen Fulton in round eight at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. 

The time was 1:14.

In round one, the respect was obvious. Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) jabbed to the body. Fulton feinted. Inoue fired a right. His jab was on point. Inoue opened up in round two - a combination connected. Fulton used lateral movement. Inoue stalked. Fulton was short with a counter. The super-quick Inoue landed a sweeping right.

Two rounds of sharpness. 

Fulton (21-1, 8 KOs) tried to get off first in round three. Inoue connected with a right over the top. Fulton had changed his strategy. He pushed the action. Inoue to the body. Seconds later, he fired hooks. Blood dripped from the nose of Fulton. In round four, Inoue scored with a right in round four. Fulton went to the body. Inoue fired hooks that missed. A right landed. The first four rounds were easy to score. 

Inoue. 

More jabs from Inoue in round five. And hooks. Fulton landed a combination. Inoue scored with two rights. Inoue bounced close and fired. Fulton did slightly better, but Inoue outworked him.

Three jabs to start round six from Inoue. Fulton edged forward. Inoue clipped Fulton with a left hook. A three-punch combo also landed. 

Fulton did better in round seven. He connected with a good right. Inoue fought back. Fulton landed lefts and another right. Close round - leaning Fulton.

Inoue back to the body in round eight. A huge right sent Fulton to la-la land. The force of the blow bent his body in half. A huge left sent Fulton sprawling on his back. The Philadelphia fighter pulled himself up, but he was shocked and hurt. Inoue attacked and let fly until the referee waved the fight off. 

Monsterous.