‘Dream phone call’: Padley believes he upsets Shakur on short notice

Josh Padley jumped at the opportunity to challenge Shakur Stevenson for world title.

Josh Padley will get a big and unexpected shot to dethrone WBC lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson tomorrow in Riyadh, as he fills in as a late replacement to Floyd Schofield who was withdrawn from the fight this week due to medical reasons. Padley will be coming in with only a few day’s notice to take on one of boxing’s best technicians but still believes he’ll be ready for the moment as he tells ESPN.

“It was a standard week, working the day job. Obviously still training the boxing because that is what I live and breathe. Tuesday night the dream phone call would come in .. world title shot, Shakur Stevenson on late notice. Can you do it? I went ‘yes please.’”

Padley would continue to say that while he didn’t have the opportunity to have any formal training camp for this world title shot, he takes comfort in the fact that he’s constantly training and because of that he’ll be coming to win, not just show up for the check.

If Padley can manage what he believes he’s capable of he’ll be toppling the betting odds as he a considerably bigger underdog than original opponent Schofield was, and while Matchroom promoter fully expects Padley to give it his all he still thinks Stevenson will put on a sensational performance.