Shakur Stevenson Defends WBC Lightweight Title Against Josh Padley

Image credits: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Shakur Stevenson has successfully defended his WBC lightweight title against Josh Padley with a ninth-round TKO in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight was initially scheduled to take place between Stevenson and Floyd Schofield Jr, but Schofield Jr was forced to withdraw due to illness. Padley, a Yorkshire-born boxer and part-time electrician, stepped in on short notice to face the undefeated Stevenson. Despite being outmatched in terms of skill and athleticism, Padley performed well, but ultimately succumbed to Stevenson's technical brilliance and precision in the ninth round.

The fight was part of the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 card, which featured several high-profile bouts, including Callum Smith's epic light heavyweight fight against Joshua Buatsi and Agit Kabayel's sixth-round KO victory over Zhilei Zhang. Stevenson's win was met with criticism from some fans, who felt that he should have finished the fight earlier. However, Stevenson's strategy and skill were on full display, and he remains one of the top contenders in the lightweight division.

Padley, who was undefeated in 15 bouts prior to the fight, had been working as an electrician in the north of England before receiving the call to face Stevenson. Despite the short notice, Padley was confident and determined, and he gave a good account of himself in the ring. The fight was a significant step up for Padley, who had previously beaten Mark Chamberlain at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. Stevenson, on the other hand, was defending his title for the second time, having won it in 2023.

The results from the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 card were as follows:

• Shakur Stevenson def. Josh Padley via ninth-round TKO
• Callum Smith def. Joshua Buatsi via unanimous decision
• Agit Kabayel def. Zhilei Zhang via sixth-round KO
• Vergil Ortiz Jr. def. Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision
• Hamzah Sheeraz and Carlos Adames fought to a split draw

Stevenson's win sets up a potential showdown with Gervonta Davis, who is considered one of the top contenders in the lightweight division. Davis took to social media to offer some criticism of Stevenson's performance, but it is clear that Stevenson remains a formidable opponent.

The boxing world will be eagerly anticipating Stevenson's next move, as he looks to continue his reign as WBC lightweight champion. With his technical skill and precision in the ring, Stevenson is a force to be reckoned with, and his future fights are sure to be highly anticipated. The lightweight division is one of the most competitive in boxing, and Stevenson's continued success will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.

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