He may be off that night but it will not change anything as people will still side and believe with Inoue, and most probably will not make any difference at all because the challenger was much stronger and faster than him. Not to underestimate him, but Fulton was just a mere pawn meant to be Inoue's stepping stone to have more belts and reach further in his career.
I am one among those who thought the Fulton can absorb Inoue punches but ends up wrong. Fulton isn't off that night but looks off because Inoue had countered his plan. If your opponent is outsmarting you, more faster and quicker without any hesitation, it is sure that it will prevent you from playing your style. I believe Inoue's camp had scouted Fulton's ability and is able to make a counter plan which is shown on their fight.
After this fight, the next fight would be easier for Inoue if Tapales failed to make an adjustment and improvement of his self both in defense and offense.
I think majority of us here also thought above that, Fulton is the natural bigger guys so at least he can take that punch and absorb the power. But he was caught off guard, and we know that if a boxer is hit by a punch that they didn't expect, they are deemed to go down or at least be hurt on that exchange. So in the case of Fulton he was trying to avoid it by shifting his head and try to defend it, but Inoue is too fast for him. Up next is Tapales, yes it could be an easier fight as compare for Fulton, but Inoue shouldn't underestimate Tapales. I mean Filipinos are know to bring everything, and they have a big heart. Not saying that Tapales will win, but I will expect him to fight harder.
Is there any announcement or telling about Inoue going for other belts on the current division? If he do then Tapales would be the next target on unifying all the belts before he would be deciding on moving up.
I agree on the saying that he shouldn't really be taking lightly on Tapales considering that he has been holding the other belt and knowing about Filipino fighters then this is something that cant really be underestimated.
About speed and power then there's no doubt that Inoue is faster and have solid punches even just looking on the start of Round 1. You could really tell and see the difference into those aspects.
It is really just that good that Fulton did make out some sustain in later round until he got caught off guard or just simply that Inoue is really just that too fast.
There are lots of talks about the foul that had been done by Inoue? When Fulton touches up his gloves on the floor, then it should really be called down but instead he do make out some follow up punch
on securing out that knock down. Dont know on whats the take of this one.