Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed how he presented Josh Padley’s name to Turki Alalshikh as a replacement option for Shakur Stevenson to fight in Riyadh on this Saturday, February 22. Hearn says that when he pointed out to Turki that Padley (15-0, 4 COs) hit his ‘Favorite’ Mark Chamberlain last September at Wembley Stadium, he immediately chose himself as the substitute to face Stevenson (22-0, 10 COs) for his WBC lightweight title.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Padley: Chosen by hand?
It is clear from listening to Hearn that he played an important role in choosing Padley about the other choices offered. One of them was the dangerous puncher Herrera Coreswhich had the power and talent to beat the light shakur. Hearn’s focus is to keep Shakur long enough unbeaten to land the mega money fight against Gervonta Davis. So, if he matches a poor fighter like Padley, it helps to promote the goal.
Former three divisions world champion Shakur has not fought any talented fought since he came to lightweight in 2023, and his other career victories came against a mix of old fighters and gene names.
Shakur’s record at 135
-Artem Harutyunyan: *No power, with a loss and 1-year discharge
– Edwin de Los Santos: Almost lost to him.
-Shuichiro yoshino: little famous fringe
Shakur is be protected With a poor match to ensure he stays unbeaten long enough to get the big payday fight against Tank Davis. We saw the same when Hearn Edgar Berlanga signed to Matchroom.
After signing Berlanga, there was immediately talk of him who challenged Canelo Alvarez, even though the New Yorker only fought tomato can before he was ink. Hearn then linked Berlanga against two soft opponents, Jason Quigley and Padraig McCrory, before taking him with the massive money Canelo match.
In no way, Edgar judged the Canelo battle, but he was still given it, and it was a horrible mismatch. We see the same thing with Shakur Stevenson, who fights a divine opposition to ensure that he is not beaten. The fight against Edwin de Los Santos showed that it could not be trusted that Shakur was linked to anyone with power or a piece of talent, because he would probably be lost or ran out of the arena. Shakur is a 100% false.
“Once I got the news about Floyd Schofield, I talked to our matchmakers and said, ‘I go to his excellence home within an hour. I need four names, and I need you to tell me that their medicine is in check. They can fly to Saudi tomorrow. They are on weight, ‘and they came back with four names,’ Eddie Hearn told Box news About how he found the substitute opponent for Shakur Stevenson on Saturday to fight.
“I took them to his excellence, and I told him about Floyd Schofield. I said, “Look, these are the fighters.” I said, ‘This is the man. This is Josh Padley. He beat your favorite, Mark Chamberlain, in the Riyadh season at Wembley. He is 15-0 and #12 with the WBC, “and he went,” Yes, it is him. ‘
‘We then had to negotiate the agreement, which was very expensive but well deserved. Josh Padley changes his life, gets a chance at the world title, and Shakur remains in the fight. It was a remarkable piece of work. It was a difficult 12 hours, but we did the job, ”Hearn said.
Last updated on 02/20/2025
