Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed how he offered Josh Padley’s identify to Turki Alalshikh as a substitute possibility for Shakur Stevenson to struggle this Saturday, February twenty second, in Riyadh. Hearn says that when he identified to Turki that Padley (15-0, 4 KOs) had overwhelmed his “favourite” Mark Chamberlain final September at Wembley Stadium, he instantly selected him because the substitute to face Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) for his WBC light-weight title.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Padley: Handpicked?
It’s clear from listening to Hearn that he was instrumental in selecting Padley over the opposite decisions offered. Considered one of them was the damaging puncher Jadier Herrera, who had the facility and expertise to beat the light-hitting Shakur. Hearn’s focus is preserving Shakur unbeaten lengthy sufficient to land the mega-money struggle towards Gervonta Davis. So, matching him towards a weak fighter like Padley helps additional that aim.
The previous three-division world champion Shakur hasn’t fought anybody gifted since he moved as much as light-weight in 2023, and his different profession wins have come towards a mixture of previous washed-up fighters and no-names.
Shakur’s Report at 135
– Artem Harutyunyan: *No energy, coming off a loss and 1-year layoff
– Edwin De Los Santos: Nearly misplaced to him.
– Shuichiro Yoshino: Little-known fringe contender
Shakur is being protected with weak matchmaking to make sure he stays unbeaten lengthy sufficient to get the large payday struggle towards Tank Davis. We noticed the identical factor when Hearn signed Edgar Berlanga to Matchroom.
Upon signing Berlanga, there was instant discuss of him difficult Canelo Alvarez, although the New Yorker had fought solely tomato cans earlier than being inked. Hearn then matched Berlanga towards two mushy opponents, Jason Quigley and Padraig McCrory, earlier than lining him up with the huge cash Canelo struggle.
On no account did Edgar price the Canelo struggle, but he was nonetheless given it, and it was a horrible mismatch. We’re seeing the identical factor with Shakur Stevenson, who fights godawful opposition to make sure he isn’t overwhelmed. The struggle towards Edwin De Los Santos confirmed that Shakur couldn’t be trusted to be matched towards anybody with energy or a shred of expertise as a result of he’d seemingly lose or be booed out of the sector. Shakur is a 100% pretend.
“As quickly as I acquired the information about Floyd Schofield, I talked to our matchmakers and mentioned, ‘I’m going to His Excellency’s home in an hour. I want 4 names, and I want you to inform me their medicals are in examine. They will fly to Saudi tomorrow. They’re on weight,’ and so they got here again with 4 names,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Boxing Information about how he discovered the substitute opponent for Shakur Stevenson to struggle on Saturday.
“I took them to His Excellency, and I instructed him about Floyd Schofield. I mentioned, ‘Look, these are the fighters.’ I mentioned, ‘That is the man. That is Josh Padley. He beat your favourite, Mark Chamberlain, in Riyadh Season at Wembley. He’s 15-0 and #12 with the WBC,’ and he went, ‘Yeah, that’s him.’
“We then needed to negotiate the deal, which was very costly however nicely deserved. Josh Padley adjustments his life, will get a shot on the world title, and Shakur stays within the struggle. It was a exceptional piece of labor. It was a troublesome 12 hours, however we acquired the job achieved,” mentioned Hearn.
Final Up to date on 02/20/2025
