Defying the bookmakers’ odds and expert predictions, American fighter Stephen Fulton is a world champion once again! “Cool Boy” clearly defeated his fellow countryman Brandon Figueroa by decision, claiming the WBC featherweight world title. These were the judges’ final scorecards, all in favor of the winner, who delivered a truly sensational performance: 117-111, 116-112, 116-112.
The opening two rounds of the fight were extremely close, with both fighters enjoying favorable moments. On one hand, Fulton’s intense focus was impressive—he was always ready to neutralize Figueroa’s early attempts to charge forward. On the other hand, Figueroa’s constant stance switches seemed to confuse him more than they unsettled his opponent.
Fulton took control in the third round, dominating the action from mid-range and landing precise, effective shots in rapid succession. While everyone expected Cool Boy to have the upper hand in a technical battle, what happened in the next three rounds must have stunned even his most devoted fans.
From the fourth to the sixth round, Figueroa abandoned all hesitation and threw himself into an all-out assault with relentless aggression. However, dragging the fight into his preferred territory did not work in his favor. Fulton masterfully handled the inside exchanges, suddenly unleashing the most eye-catching and effective punches, making his opponent’s exhausting yet ineffective work completely futile.
With the fight slipping away, Figueroa tried to turn things around and managed to win a decent seventh round. However, in the eighth, Fulton once again played the role of a boxing professor, delivering a masterclass that should be shown to young beginners in boxing gyms.
The Philadelphia fighter dazzled the crowd both offensively and defensively, brilliantly anticipating his opponent in the center of the ring and later executing razor-sharp evasions when backed against the ropes. Frustrated by his inability to land clean shots, Figueroa was forced to throw punches relying only on arm strength, making them far less effective.
The following two rounds were more evenly contested, but the difference remained clear: Fulton looked comfortable, fully aware of what he was doing and in total control, while Figueroa seemed lost, unable to execute a winning tactical plan, simply throwing punches and pressing forward out of pure pride.
Only in the final two rounds did Cool Boy show a slight drop in intensity and sharpness, though he never faced any real danger. His opponent, meanwhile, went all-in, pressing with blind determination in a desperate attempt to land a punch that could turn the tide of the already compromised fight.
The judges’ scorecards were fair (this writer had it 116-112), rightfully awarding a majestic Stephen Fulton. This victory was even clearer and more convincing than his 2021 win over Figueroa, decisively proving the Philadelphia fighter’s return to form. Fully recovered mentally after his brutal loss to Naoya Inoue, he now looks ready to deliver more high-level performances.