Josh Padley steps in to face WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson
Replaces Floyd Schofield, who fell ill, on four days' notice
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Josh Padley will challenge WBC lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson on four days’ notice.
Padley was on his way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday for the biggest fight of his life, which will be on the Riyadh Season card headlined by the rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and former titlist Dmitry Bivol on Saturday (DAZN PPV, PPV.COM, 10:30 a.m., $25.99) at Kingdom Arena.
Padley and manager Stefy Bull accepted the fight on Tuesday night after original challenger Floyd Schofield became ill and had to be taken to the hospital in Riyadh, causing the British Boxing Board of Control, which is in charge of regulating the show, to pull him from the fight. Schofield has since been released from the hospital.
As soon as Schofield became ill there was a mad dash to secure a suitable replacement with Padley among those in the immediate running. He had been in talks for a possible fight with Dalton Smith in April but now has a much bigger opportunity.
On Wednesday, Turki Alalshikh, who oversees the Riyadh Season cards, made the new opponent official.
“Shakur Stevenson is set to face Josh Padley in a fight that’s going to shake the ring,” Alalshikh posted to social media.
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Padley, who ranks one spot ahead of Schofield in the WBC’s 135-pound ratings, was quickly approved by the WBC.
“The WBC has officially confirmed that Josh Padley is approved to challenge Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said. “The (BBBofC) has medically cleared him. He was in training camp for a fight and is ranked No. 12 by the WBC.” Schofield is No.13.
Padley (15-0, 4 KOs), 29, of England, is coming off his biggest win. He was the underdog when he outpointed countryman Mark Chamberlain — Alalshikh’s favorite fighter — in a 10-rounder that took place in September on the Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois undercard at Wembley Stadium in London.
“Guys, don’t worry — we’re on our way. We’re coming to cause chaos again,” Padley said of his latest assignment.
It was apparent there was an issue when Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs), 22, a top prospect from Austin, Texas, was a no show at the official grand arrival ceremony on Tuesday night in Riyadh. The other fighters from the card were on hand.
On Wednesday, Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes Schofield, issued a statement on the situation.
“Floyd ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield Jr. fell ill and was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure,” the statement said. “In the interest of Schofield’s health and safety, the British Boxing Board of Control made the decision to cancel his scheduled bout against Shakur Stevenson. Schofield has since been discharged from the hospital and is awaiting the results of his medical evaluation. We extend our gratitude to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, SELA, and the medical professionals who provided Schofield with care.”
Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), 27, a three-division titlist Newark, New Jersey, who will make his second lightweight defense, took the opponent change in stride.
“I’m gone catch yall Saturday tho I still got a job to do ion got time for the trolls,” Stevenson posted to social media. “I’m locked in, it’s still a man in front of me who would love to take my spot. It’s work time!!”
The fight is Stevenson’s first since his contract with career-long promoter Top Rank expired and he signed with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, who was happy to find a replacement for Stevenson to face.
“I’m so happy with the job the team’s done — myself, (Matchroom Boxing CEO) Frank (Smith), (matchmakers) Tom Dallas, Kevin Rooney,” Hearn said. “This is one of the great saves because at this stage with a normal team 99 percent of the time you’re going home; you ain’t fighting and all the hard work has been wasted, and I was not going to let Shakur Stevenson down. We’ve got his back and we delivered, massively. I’m pleased that Josh and Stefy and everybody gets that chance, and gets that massive life-changing opportunity.”
Beterbiev-Bivol II PPV lineup
Light heavyweights: Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) vs. Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs), rematch, for Beterbiev’s undisputed title
Heavyweights: Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) vs. Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), for Dubois’ IBF title
Lightweights: Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) vs. Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KOs), for Stevenson’s WBC title
Middleweights: Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs), for Adames’ WBC title
Junior middleweights: Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) vs. Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs), for Ortiz’s WBC interim title
Heavyweights: Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) vs. Agit Kabayel (25-0, 17 KOs), for vacant WBC interim title
Light heavyweights: Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) vs. Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs), for Buatsi’s WBO interim title
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Padley photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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Not boots nando he is in a tough fight with stanionis as tough of fight he would of got with oritz
Great job by Hearn. I'm still disappointed with Team Scholfield. They somehow managed to fumble a huge bag and well earned kudos. Now they're lumped in with Boots and Teofimo Lopez for varying reasons. None that are good.