Shakur Stevenson seemed to have switched gears today, amping up his aggression during the weigh-in as he came face-to-face with his stand-in rival, Josh Padley. With an intense demeanor, Stevenson got right up in Padley’s space, pointing fingers and even giving him a shove ahead of their 12-round lightweight undercard showdown, set to air live on DAZN PPV this Saturday.
The odd thing, though, is Padley’s ability to punch seems on par with Stevenson’s, even if his knockout count is just four after 15 wins. If Padley steps up and brings the fight to Stevenson, who knows? An upset could be on the cards. While the likelihood of the judges siding with Padley might be slim, he could still reveal the vulnerabilities in Stevenson just as Edwin De Los Santos once did.
So Stevenson’s tough-guy antics made him look like he had something to prove, taking a confrontational stance against Padley—a fringe contender with a spotless record (15-0, 4 KOs)—whom promoter Eddie Hearn suggested after scheduled opponent Floyd Schofield fell ill and was pulled from the fight. If Shakur was up against a serious threat, like Andy Cruz, Abdullah Mason, or Raymond Muratalla, this approach would be more understandable. However, showing such bravado against a last-minute fill-in is questionable.
It’s clear that back-to-back lackluster performances against Artem Harutyunyan and Edwin De Los Santos might be gnawing at Stevenson’s confidence. Disappointed fans have started to peel away, their initial impressions of Shakur shaking. To recapture that lost following and win over new fans, Stevenson needs more than a bout with Padley. He should have pushed for a tougher matchup, perhaps with someone like Jadier Herrera. At least a victory against Herrera would garner more respect. But with the 22-year-old Cuban, boasting an impressive (16-0, 14 KOs), Stevenson’s chances could have been much slimmer.
At the weigh-in today, Stevenson tipped the scales at 134.1 pounds, while Padley came in at 134 pounds.
"It’s what dreams are made of. This is the pinnacle—fighting for a world title," Josh Padley expressed to DAZN Boxing at the weigh-in, reflecting on his unexpected chance to challenge WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. "Tune in on Saturday night to see it."
For Shakur, it’s all about exuding confidence—or maybe overconfidence—as he declared, “I told him I’m going to beat his a***. There’s a buzz, all right. Let’s settle it in the ring." He wasn’t fazed by the late opponent switch, insisting, "I stayed focused, I stayed locked in. I’m going to shine… and tomorrow is my time."
In his past as an amateur, everyone was fair game for Stevenson. This isn’t new territory for him. "It’s showtime—let’s do it," he said with a promise to remind everyone of his prowess. "Tomorrow is my time. I’m coming to have fun, and I’m putting belt to a**."
As fight night looms, the big question remains: Can Padley turn the tables on Stevenson in a shocking upset? With everything set for February 22, broadcast live on DAZN during the Riyadh Season, only a day stands between talk and action.
