Josh Padley: The Fighter Who Turned Defeat into a Career Breakthrough

How a Defeat Changed Everything for Josh Padley

When Josh Padley picked up the phone on a Tuesday night in February, he couldn’t have imagined how that call would change his life. Just four days later, the Doncaster electrician was in Riyadh, standing across the ring from WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.

He lost that fight—but walked away with much more than a payday.

Now 29, Padley has traded his toolbox for boxing gloves, signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom, and embarks on a new journey as a full-time professional in the super-featherweight division.

“That was my opportunity to fully announce myself to the world,” Padley told BBC Sport. “I’d say it worked perfectly.”

From Day Job to Dream Life

Boxing was never supposed to be a career. Padley started the sport as a teenager but always viewed it as a hobby.

“I always thought the pros had to start at seven years old,” he said. “Now I get to do what I love—twice, even three times a day.”

His decision to step in against Stevenson on short notice—despite minimal prep time—proved pivotal. The fight didn’t go his way, but it earned him international fans, respect, and attention.

“I’ve got fans from America messaging me, still watching for my next fight,” Padley said.

The Risks of Short-Notice Fights

Padley was stopped in the ninth round against Stevenson

Short-notice fights often carry career risks. Fellow Brit Ishmael Davis lost momentum with back-to-back late-replacement bouts in 2024.

Padley was aware of the danger.

“There are always doubts over preparation. I had just four days. But if I’d pulled it off—it would’ve gone down in history.”

Though defeat came, it proved to be a stepping stone, not a setback.

Stay Ready, Stay Sharp

Padley was unsigned at the time of the Stevenson fight but stayed in shape just in case opportunity knocked.

“If I’d ballooned in weight, I wouldn’t have taken the fight. Staying ready made all the difference.”

Now signed and supported, he makes his super-featherweight debut this Saturday in Sheffield, just 20 miles from his hometown, against Reece Bellotti.

New Division, Same Ambition

Fighting now at 130lbs instead of lightweight, Padley is laser-focused on the road ahead.

“As a full-time athlete, I can make sacrifices around weight and meals,” he said. “This is a big test against someone like Reece, who’s been in with top guys.”

Bellotti (20-6) brings experience, having shared the ring with names like Ryan Garner, Raymond Ford, and Jordan Gill.

‘I’ve Had a Taste – Now I Want More’

Padley knows there’s a long road to world title contention—but he’s undeterred.

“Any boxer should aim high. I’d love to get back on the Riyadh cards. I’ve had a taste, and that’s where I want to be.”

From humble beginnings in Doncaster to the bright lights of Riyadh, Josh Padley’s journey proves that even defeat can be the start of something extraordinary.