The stakes have been raised on the blockbuster Tszyu vs Spence Jr card, with news confirming that Stephen Fulton Jr vs Liam Wilson is now a WBA World Title Eliminator, with the winner earning a mandatory position to challenge for the WBA World Super Featherweight Title.
US boxing superstar and two-division world champion Stephen Fulton Jr (23-2, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia meets Australia’s Liam Wilson (18-3, 10 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight clash, live from Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia on Saturday, July 25.
Wilson has been to the mountaintop twice before and been denied both times, in the United States. He was controversially defeated by Emanuel Navarrete, and later stopped by Oscar Valdez in world title challenges on American soil. Now he gets his shot at home, in front of his own people, with a mandatory world title position on the line.
The Australian carries more than a career ambition into this fight. Wilson has spoken of a promise made to his father on his deathbed that he would win the world title in his memory, a vow that has driven him through two heartbreaking near misses and back into world title contention.
“I’ve been to America twice chasing this dream and come home with nothing to show for it but the scars,” Wilson said.
“Robbed once, stopped once. I know what it feels like to have it taken off me. Not this time. Not in my own backyard. This is everything. This is my world title. Nobody is taking it off me again.
“I made a promise to my old man before he passed that I’d bring a world title home, and I’ve carried that with me every single day since. Stephen Fulton is a two-time world champion and I respect that. But respect doesn’t win fights. I’m coming for damage and I’m coming for the world.”
The WBA Super Featherweight throne currently belongs to Belfast’s Anthony Cacace (25-1, 9 KOs), who captured the title in March with a unanimous decision win over Jazza Dickens in Dublin.
Cacace has been ordered by the WBA to make his first defence against interim champion Elnur Samedov, meaning the winner of Fulton vs Wilson is to be next in line.
“This is exactly the kind of opportunity we set out to create for Australian fighters,” No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose said.
“Liam Wilson has been denied twice on foreign soil and now he gets his shot at home, with a world title shot on the line. You don’t get more real than that.
“Stephen Fulton is one of the most credentialed operators in the sport and he’s coming to Australia to make a statement. Liam knows exactly what’s in front of him and he’s not shying away from it, he’s chasing it.
“This is why we build cards like this. Genuine world title stakes, world-class fighters, and giving Aussie fighters the chance to make history.”
Fulton and Wilson’s world title news comes after No Limit Boxing confirmed Jermall Charlo was denied a visa by the Australian Government and will not face Koen Mazoudier as scheduled.
The remainder of the card is unchanged in stature. It remains one of the best ever assembled on Australian soil, headlined by Errol Spence Jr’s highly anticipated return against Australian superstar Tim Tszyu, plus Stephen Fulton vs Liam Wilson, Callum Peters and Paulo Aokuso and more.
