Why it's trending
The cancellation of a high-profile co-main event due to a severe weight miss—compounded by a prior cancellation on the same card—sparked outrage and drew scrutiny to Stephen Fulton Jr's professionalism. Quotes from Wilson's manager calling it a 'blight on the sport' amplified media coverage.
The Tim Tszyu-Errol Spence Jr blockbuster card suffered a second blow when Stephen Fulton Jr failed to make weight for his super-featherweight fight against Australia's Liam Wilson, forcing cancellation. At the July 25 weigh-in, Fulton weighed 63.2kg (139.5lb), well above the originally agreed 58.9kg limit, which officials had already raised to 60.3kg at Fulton's request. Wilson had agreed to the change but was left without a fight.
Wilson's manager Glenn Jennings accused Fulton's camp of never intending to fight, telling ABC News: 'This feels like a stitch-up… It is not only unacceptable, it is a blight on the sport.' Nine.com.au noted that Fulton also failed to make weight for his previous fight against O'Shaquie Foster. Promoters No Limit cancelled the bout and moved Paulo Aokuso vs Luis Tejeda to the main card.
The cancellation follows the earlier loss of Jermall Charlo's fight against Koen Mazoudier, who was denied a visa. Both incidents have marred the buildup to the Tszyu-Spence headliner. Fulton's weight miss was particularly galling as he had requested the weight increase before flying to Australia, yet still came in 2.9kg over.
The fight was a world title eliminator for Wilson, who had previously fought for a world title. The cancellation may impact his ranking and momentum. For Fulton, the incident adds to a pattern of weight issues, raising questions about his professionalism. The Tszyu-Spence card proceeds with a reshuffled lineup.
Timeline
- Charlo fight cancelled
American Jermall Charlo denied visa for fight against Koen Mazoudier on Tszyu undercard (source: Nine.com.au).
- Weight limit raised
At Fulton's request, fight weight limit raised from 58.9kg to 60.3kg; Wilson agreed (source: Nine.com.au).
- Weigh-in and cancellation
Fulton weighed 63.2kg (ABC: almost 63.5kg); fight cancelled by promoters No Limit. Wilson's manager calls it a 'stitch-up' (source: ABC News, Nine.com.au).
- Tszyu vs Spence Jr fight day
Main card proceeds without Fulton-Wilson; Aokuso vs Tejeda moved to main card (source: ABC News).
Questions people ask
Why was the Fulton-Wilson fight cancelled?
Stephen Fulton Jr failed to make weight. He weighed about 63.2kg, nearly 4.5kg over the original limit of 58.9kg and 2.9kg over the raised limit of 60.3kg, leading to cancellation (ABC News).
What did Liam Wilson's manager say?
Glenn Jennings called it a 'stitch-up' and said it was 'a blight on the sport', questioning Fulton's intention to fight (ABC News).
Was this the only fight cancelled on the card?
No, Jermall Charlo's fight against Koen Mazoudier was cancelled a week earlier due to a visa denial (Nine.com.au).
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