Daniel Roman vs. Stephen Fulton: Boxing Odds and Prediction

After claiming the WBO super bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over Angelo Leo in January 2021, “Cool Boy Steph” added the WBC title to his collection with a narrow w majority decision win over Brandon Figueroa last time out, in November. The No. 1 contender on the WBO super bantamweight rankings, Roman was the unified super bantamweight champion before losing the WBA (Unified) and IBF super bantamweight titles in a heartbreaking split decision loss to Murodjon Akhmadaliev in January 2020. However, he has managed to earn a shot at regaining the crown with unanimous decision wins in his past two outings, capped by a 10-round victory over Ricardo Espinoza Franco in May 2021.

Despite escaping with his narrowest victory as champion in his last contest, Fulton has emerged as a heavy -522 favourite to successfully defend his titles in Saturday’s contest. Conversely, Roman finds himself in unfamiliar territory, pegged as a betting underdog with lengthy +317 odds, while the odds of this fight ending in a draw are pegged at +2000.

Roman vs. Fulton Betting Analysis

Saturday night’s championship main card is scheduled to get underway at 9:00pm at Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the main event expected to get underway at approximately 11:00pm ET. Fulton has been regularly perched as betting chalk since first rising to the top of the super bantamweight decision with his victory over Paulus Ambunda to claim the IBO title three years ago. Cool Boy Steph has been listed as the favourite in each of his past six fights, with odds as short as -1000. While Roman has a long history of paying out as a betting favourite at the sportsbooks, claiming victory in his past 10 while sporting negative odds. However, he came up short as a betting underdog in his loss to Akhmadaliev. In addition, he now returns to action on the heels of the longest layoff of his career.

Daniel Roman

Affectionately known as “The Baby Faced Assassin”, Daniel Roman is unlikely to have any delusions of grandeur going into this fight. The former champion knows what it’s like to lose a belt after racking up 19 straight wins, and has quietly prepared for what he hopes to be a return to the top of the division. Roman also knows what it’s like to face an undefeated opponent. Indeed, his win to claim the WBA (Regular) super bantamweight title came in spectacular fashion with a ninth-round TKO of previously unbeaten Shun Kubo as a massive +475 underdog five years ago. Roman has developed a reputation as a skilled technical boxer. However, he has demonstrated his ability to finish opponents, with 10 of his 29 career wins. And perhaps more important is his ability to take a punch, and go deep into championship rounds.

Stephen Fulton

Now just entering his prime, Stephen Fulton has steadily improved with age. The 27-year-old did not see championship rounds until his first title three years ago, after seeing 14 of his first 15 pro fights scheduled for eight or fewer rounds. However Cool Boy Steph has made an easy transition to marathon fights. The winner by KO or TKO in seven of his first 15 fights, he has grinded out victories by decision in four of his past five outings. Unlike Roman, who has made no public statements about how Saturday’s fight will go, Fulton has been animated in his promise to “beat this guy up”, and has already stated his intention to make Akhmadaliev his next opponent. While that may raise concerns that he is looking beyond Roman, expect Fulton to return to business as usual when the bell rings on Saturday night.

Prediction: Stephen Fulton OVER 9.5 rounds