Stephen Fulton reacts to missing weight by 6.5 pounds and fight cancellation

On July 25, at the Olympic Park, Qudos, New South Wales, in Sydney, Errol Spence Jr vs Tim Tszyu headlines a No Limit Boxing fight card, in association with The Rose Brothers, Man Down Promotions, and TGB Promotions. This intriguing card will be shown live on DAZN pay-per-view or as part of the DAZN Ultimate subscription. Fans in the UK can also watch on Amazon Prime, while the event will be broadcast on PPV and Amazon Prime in the United States. Stephen Fulton was due to face Liam Wilson; however, after badly missing weight by 6.5 pounds, the fight has subsequently been cancelled, with the American reacting to the cancellation.

Stephen Fulton misses weight by 6.5 pounds

Fulton (23-2, 8 KOs) missed weight badly before his last fight with O’Shaquie Foster, with the fight ultimately taking place for the WBC interim world lightweight title. Lessons had clearly not been learnt with the American leaving it too late to make the contracted 130-pound for the WBA super featherweight title eliminator. 

Team Wilson (18-3, 10 KOs) agreed to a catchweight limit of 133 pounds to keep the fight alive, but that proved not enough as he weighed in at 139.5 at the official weigh-in, leading to the cancellation of the bout. Paulo Aokuso vs Luis Tejeda will now take place on the main card.

Reacting to Fulton missing weight, Wilson’s coach Ben Harrington did not mince his words: “This fight was agreed. Twelve rounds at 130 pounds. He rolls in today at 139. We all know what Liam would say, but that’s not the point,” said Wilson’s coach Ben Harrington.

“I have the responsibility to look after Liam and his family, but this isn’t it. About 140 pounds, supposed to be 133, he had no intentions of making it. No effort at all.”

Wilson’s manager Glenn Jennings was also clearly unhappy and said: “This feels like an absolute stitch-up. We sign a contract at 130, there’s an expectation you will deliver. It’s totally unacceptable and a blight on the sport. This is unprofessional. There’s nowhere to go for this bloke now.”

Stephen Fulton apologises for missing weight

It’s difficult to defend a fighter who badly misses weight for the second fight in a row, and Fulton did apologise via his X account: “My apologies goes to No limit Boxing as well as Lou Decubas, TGB promotions, my team and the fans. I gave it my all and lost to the scale. I thought the 133lbs mark would be better but when I got to 138 there was nothing left to lose and no sweat coming from my body,” wrote Fulton.

Reacting to criticism from Wilson’s camp, Fulton further posted on X: “Why would I fly all the way to Australia with no intentions to make weight. Is it my fault yes and I take accountability, but I gave it my all! Once I got to 138 I wasn’t sweating any more. I thought and believed I could make the weight.”

Stephen Fulton vs Liam Wilson is off, and it leaves Fulton’s future in the sport uncertain. The 32-year-old is a former two-weight world champion with unquestionable qualities in the ring, but missing weight raises the question of how committed he is to the sport.

Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence Jr

• Errol Spence Jr vs Tim Tszyu, 12 rounds, catchweight
• Paul Fleming vs Ahmad Reda, 10 rounds, lightweights
• Callum Peters vs Ivan Actis, 10 rounds, middleweights
• Paulo Aokuso vs Luis Tejeda, 10 rounds, light heavyweights
• Tina Rahimi vs Sacha Ryan Dryden, 4 rounds, female bantamweights

Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence Jr, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.

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No Limit Boxing