One of the most highly anticipated junior featherweight bouts has finally been rescheduled for next month.
On Jan. 23, Angelo Leo (20-0, 9 KOs) will defend his WBO junior featherweight title against Stephen Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs) in a bout between two undefeated 26-year-olds that was originally scheduled for Aug. 1 but was canceled because of Fulton’s positive COVID-19 test.
The fight, announced on Saturday by Showtime, will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and headline the first Showtime Championship Boxing event of 2021.
Leo won the vacant title by scoring a unanimous-decision win over Tramaine Williams, who stepped in for Fulton to fight Leo on short notice. The orthodox boxer fought only one time in 2020 after winning four times in 2019.
Fulton has been waiting for this opportunity since he was pulled from that fight. The Philadelphia native fought in January, defeating Arnold Khegai by unanimous decision. He watched the Leo-Williams fight on television while quarantined and said afterward that he believed he’d ultimately get his shot at the title.
“Congratulations to Leo, he did it,” Fulton said to Showtime’s Brian Custer. “But listen, I’m ready for him. I’ve been ready. Just be ready to face me when it’s time.”
ESPN has Fulton ranked No. 8 in its junior featherweight rankings, with the champion at No. 10.
“January 23RD we back in action WBO WORLD TITLE !!!!” Fulton tweeted Saturday night.
January 23RD we back in action WBO WORLD TITLE !!!!
— 100 Billion (@coolboysteph) December 20, 2020
The co-main event will feature junior featherweight Raeese Aleem (17-0, 11 KOs) facing Vic Pasillas (16-0, 9 KOs), and Rolando Romero (12-0, 10 KOs) will face Justin Pauldo (14-1, 7 KOs) to open the night.
