Stephen Fulton's Title Vacated, Carrington vs. Castro Main Event Upgraded
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In a recent development, Stephen Fulton has relinquished his WBC featherweight belt after failing to make the required weight for his super featherweight debut against O'Shaquie Foster. This decision comes as no surprise, given Fulton's performance in the ring. The original plan for the January 31st card, featuring Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson, was to have Bruce Carrington defend his interim title against Carlos Castro. However, with Fulton's withdrawal, the stakes have been raised, and the full title will now be on the line.
Fulton, known for his 23-2 record and 8 KO's, had previously won the belt from Brandon Figueroa in a rematch. His immediate pursuit of Foster, however, ended in disappointment as he missed the weight limit by 2 pounds and lost via wide decision. The WBC's strategy to hold a mini-tournament for the 126-pound division's next mandatory challenger has been put on hold. The semi-finals were set to feature Carrington (16-0, 9 KO) against Mateus Heita and Castro (30-3, 14 KO) against Rey Vargas, but Vargas' fight never materialized, and Castro hasn't fought since his split decision loss to Fulton in September 2021.
Despite the setback, Castro remains a formidable opponent, having only lost to top-tier fighters and securing two split decision victories. The upcoming fight promises to be an exciting one, with both fighters eager to prove their mettle.
