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Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed how he introduced Josh Padley’s identify to Turki Alalshikh as a alternative choice for Shakur Stevenson to struggle this Saturday, February twenty second, in Riyadh. Hearn says that when he identified to Turki that Padley (15-0, 4 KOs) had crushed his “favorite” Mark Chamberlain final September at Wembley Stadium, he instantly selected him because the substitute to face Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) for his WBC light-weight title.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Padley: Handpicked?
It’s clear from listening to Hearn that he was instrumental in selecting Padley over the opposite selections introduced. Considered one of them was the harmful puncher Jadier Herrera, who had the ability and expertise to beat the light-hitting Shakur. Hearn’s focus is maintaining Shakur unbeaten lengthy sufficient to land the mega-money struggle towards Gervonta Davis. So, matching him towards a weak fighter like Padley helps additional that purpose.
The previous three-division world champion Shakur hasn’t fought anybody proficient since he moved as much as light-weight in 2023, and his different profession wins have come towards a mixture of previous washed-up fighters and no-names.
Shakur’s Document at 135
– Artem Harutyunyan: *No energy, coming off a loss and 1-year layoff– Edwin De Los Santos: Virtually misplaced to him.– Shuichiro Yoshino: Little-known fringe contender
Shakur is being protected with weak matchmaking to make sure he stays unbeaten lengthy sufficient to get the massive payday struggle towards Tank Davis. We noticed the identical factor when Hearn signed Edgar Berlanga to Matchroom.
Upon signing Berlanga, there was speedy speak of him difficult Canelo Alvarez, though the New Yorker had fought solely tomato cans earlier than being inked. Hearn then matched Berlanga towards two gentle opponents, Jason Quigley and Padraig McCrory, earlier than lining him up with the large cash Canelo struggle.
Under no circumstances did Edgar price the Canelo struggle, but he was nonetheless given it, and it was a horrible mismatch. We’re seeing the identical factor with Shakur Stevenson, who fights godawful opposition to make sure he isn’t crushed. The struggle towards Edwin De Los Santos confirmed that Shakur couldn’t be trusted to be matched towards anybody with energy or a shred of expertise as a result of he’d seemingly lose or be booed out of the world. Shakur is a 100% pretend.
“I took them to His Excellency, and I advised him about Floyd Schofield. I mentioned, ‘Look, these are the fighters.’ I mentioned, ‘This is the guy. This is Josh Padley. He beat your favorite, Mark Chamberlain, in Riyadh Season at Wembley. He’s 15-0 and #12 with the WBC,’ and he went, ‘Yeah, that’s him.’
“We then had to negotiate the deal, which was very expensive but well deserved. Josh Padley changes his life, gets a shot at the world title, and Shakur stays in the fight. It was a remarkable piece of work. It was a tough 12 hours, but we got the job done,” mentioned Hearn.
