Briton Padley steps in to face world champion Stevenson

After Floyd Schofield Jr. was forced to withdraw, Briton Josh Padley will face WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

After being hospitalized on Tuesday, Schofield Jr. was taken out of the world title match.

Stevenson, 27, faces fellow undefeated fighter Padley, who is unbeaten in 15 bouts.

On a few days’ notice, the Yorkshireman will have his first world championship contest.

Stevenson, unbeaten in 22 fight, represents a huge step up for Padley, whose last victory came over domestic rival Mark Chamberlain last September.

Stevenson, an American fighter, won the belt in 2023 and is now defending it for the second time.

On Wednesday, Schofield Jr.’s father posted a photo of his son lying in a hospital bed, disclosing that he was “ducking” the fight. He declined to provide further information.

The American, 22, left shortly after the grand arrivals on Tuesday in Riyadh, and he missed the ceremony.

“As a parent I am overwhelmed. Extremely cruel and evil can occur. The comeback will be major. No-one ducks a fight with Mr Pillow Hands”, Schofield Jr’s father said on Instagram.

The fighter “fell ill,” according to a statement from Schofield Jr.’s promoters Golden Boy, but he had since been released from the hospital and was awaiting the results of his medical evaluation.

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