‘It worked perfectly’ – how a loss secured Padley’s career

“I don’t have to go back to work.”

Josh Padley, the Doncaster electrician who took a fight with WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson at only four days’ notice,, became one of the stories of 2025 – and changed his life despite suffering defeat for the first time.

Had the unsigned fighter not answered his phone when the call came that Tuesday evening in February, he believes he would still be stuck in his day job.

Instead, the 29-year-old travelled to Riyadh to earn the most significant pay cheque of his career, signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom promoters – and turned his hobby into a full-time job.

“That was my opportunity to fully announce myself to the world and better my career. I’d say it worked perfectly,” he said.

On Saturday he will face Reece Bellotti in Sheffield in a bout that marks the start of a new adventure for the now full-time fighter as he attempts to crack the super-featherweight division.

“Boxing was always a hobby – I got into it at 14, 15 years old. I always had it in my head that these guys that are professional have been in the gym since seven years old,” Padley told BBC Sport.

Late-notice fights do not always pay off as it has for Padley, and a loss can knock an in-form fighter off their stride.

British light-middleweight Ishmael Davis took two successive late replacement fights in 2024, one at Wembley Stadium and one in Riyadh, and has now lost three in a row.

“There are always doubts over preparation,” said Padley. “I had four days to prepare [for the Stevenson fight] and you normally have eight to 12 weeks.

“As a fighter, undefeated at the time, my mindset going into that fight was ‘if I pull this off, it’ll go down in history’.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t go our way, but I’ve got fans from America now that message me to this day saying they’re looking out for me on my next fight.

Padley was not signed to a major promotion when he accepted the Stevenson fight, but his dedication to the sport meant he was ready when the call eventually came

“You have to stay ready and around that weight category in case opportunities like that do come,” he said.

“If I’d have ballooned up in weight and I’d not been in the gym just ticking over, then I wouldn’t have been able to take the fight and I wouldn’t be in this position today.”

After fighting the majority of his career at lightweight, Padley is set to embark on a new journey at super-featherweight when taking on Bellotti in Sheffield, 20 miles from his home of Doncaster.

“Now I’m able to be a full-time athlete, so I’m able to make more sacrifices regarding weight and discipline with my meals,” Padley added.

“It’s given me the opportunity to move down and have a good first fight against someone like Reece, who’s been tried and tested.

Bellotti, 34, has 20 wins and six losses on his record, but has been in the ring with top contenders Ryan Garner, Raymond Ford and Jordan Gill.

Padley knows the route back to world title contention is a long one, but he intends to continue backing himself.

“Any boxer starting out should have high aspirations because that’s the pinnacle of the sport,” he said.

“I would love to get back on to those big Riyadh season cards – I’ve had a taste and that’s where I want to be.