The WBC Lightweight Champion, Shakur Stevenson Josh Padley (15-0, 4 costs) rather than the dangerous Cuban Phenom Jadier Herrera for his title defense on Saturday 22 February in Riyadh.
Turki Alalashikh revealed this morning that #10 WBC ranking Padley, 29, will be the substitute opponent for Shakur (22-0, 10 COs) to fight this Saturday in a 12 round on the bottom map of the Artur Betterbiev vs. The event will be shown Live on dazn.
Alalshikh did not say whether the Stevenson would move lower in the map to the Prelims against Padley battle, which would better suit the minor fights on Saturday’s map. The fight is a 100% maladjustment, as Padley has no power, and its hand speed is slow. I do not judge Padley as a world class.
Shakur’s strategy
I never had an immediate idea that Shakur’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, would choose Hearn as his substitute opponent because he would destroy the goal of beating the mother’s golden wealth with the Gervonta Davis struggle. In his first battle in his first battle, Shakur should seem to get the mega money fight within his current duel contract with Matchroom. This is where Padley comes in. He is the ideal opponent for Stevenson to shine, looks unbeatable and possibly getting a rare knockout.
Surprisingly, the Southpaw Jadier Herrera was not chosen for Shakur because he had one punching power and was deadly for a fighter with glass hands. Herrera’s power is at the level of Gerrvonta Davis, and he will all be wrong for Shakur because he would eventually land something big.
The match promoter Hearn would then be trapped to eat the final battle of Shakur on his contract. It would be a waste of time to sign him back on a new contract and put him on an expensive rebuilding work as with Anthony Joshua. Shakur is not going to get better by rebuilding him
Padley is for display purposes, which makes Stevenson look better than him. He fits in with some of Shakur’s recent minor opponents, Artem Harutyunyan and Shuichiro Yoshino. Stevenson Padley will not be competitive, as Padley is a weaker opponent than any of the fighters who fought Shakur in his last seven fights.
Surprisingly, he got the green light as a substitute because it is not a fight worthwhile to be placed on Saturday’s map. I would have liked to have have been a fly against the wall When Hearn Josh Padley recommended in his conversation with Turki.
Shakur Stevenson will encounter Josh Padley in a fight that will shake the ring 🥊 Don’t miss the last crescendo 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aeaopaa08q
– Turki Alalshikh (@turki_alshikh) February 19, 2025
Last updated on 02/19/2025
