By Joseph Santoliquito

Stephen Fulton wouldn’t be pulled in. Arnold Khegai tried to make it a street fight. He tapped Fulton during breaks. He hit Fulton late. Khegai hit him around the waistline. He hit Fulton behind his head.

Still, Fulton stayed measured and on course.

Behind a consistent, steady jab, Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs) put on a great display of boxing, outclassing Khegai (16-1-1, 10 KOs) in 12-round super bantamweight bout, winning by scores of 117-111 on the scorecards of judges Waleska Roldan and Frank Lombardi, and a 116-112 tally by John McKaie.

Roldan and Lombardi had Fulton winning five of the last six rounds.

Fulton landed 182/535 total punches (34%) to Khegai’s 123/649 (19%). But it was Fulton’s effective jab that was the difference. Fulton landed 83/328 jabs (25%) to Khegai’s mere 28/222 (13%).

Khegai became the seventh undefeated fighter that Fulton was beaten.

“I felt great against a tough opponent,” Fulton said. “I stayed on my boxing, kept him off his game and pulled a victory out. I knew he was a rough and tumble customer, so I just had to keep my composure.

“It feels good to get this win. We’ve been through tough times and fought tough opponents. I’m proud of my team for staying together. We’re Philly strong.”

Early on, it was Khegai playing the role of stalker, forcing Fulton backwards. Fulton made him pay on occasion with the jab as Khegai charged ahead. Khegai tried going to the body, and there were a few times he landed.

But Fulton, again behind the jab, pecked away at Khegai’s face. Every time Khegai got close, “Cool Boy Steph” grabbed and held.

“That’s what I do. I use my jab,” Fulton said afterward. “I tried to utilize the jab all night and win the fight behind the jab. I showed that I’m ready for a world title next. I stayed smart and kept boxing. I used my jab in every round and that’s why I pulled the victory out.”

Welts began building under Khegai’s eyes after two rounds.

In the third, Fulton’s jab was that much more consistent. He used it as a great tool to keep Khegai away. With :39 left in the third, Khegai threw Fulton down to the canvas, and referee Steve Willis wisely stepped in, calmed Fulton down and warned Khegai.

Sensing he was losing on the scorecard, Khegai opened up, going after Fulton in the 11th, which was the first time Khegai reached Round 11. But the attack was short lived. It was Khegai’s best round since the fourth.

In between Rounds 11 and 12, Willis warned Khegai’s corner about some of Khegai’s tactics.

With 2:35 left in the fight, Khegai landed a big right that Fulton took. Fulton stayed within himself, remaining calm in his boxing bubble. And by the middle of the round, Fulton regained his cadence.

“I want that world title. I’m going to train even harder for my next performance so if I have to dog out it out even more, I’ll be ready.”

On the non-televised undercard, welterweight Keeshawn Williams (7-0-1, 2 KOs) beat wild-swinging Gaku Takahashi (16-11-1, 8 KOs) by eight-round, unanimous decision. In a six-round middleweight fight, Lorenzo Simpson (7-0, 4 KOs) beat Antonio Hernandez (2-12-1) by unanimous decision. Heavyweight Steven Torres (2-0, 2 KOs) stopped Dakota Witkopf (1-2, 1 KO) at 1:28 of a scheduled four-rounder in the first fight of the night.