Secure a scalp and settle on a division: How does Josh Padley return to world title shot?

Josh Padley begins his pursuit of the lightweight summit once again when he steps back into the ring this month in Sheffield.

The Doncaster-born fighter found himself under the spotlight this year when he stepped in for a short-notice superstar bout. 

Though unable to get the best of WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson in Riyadh, he won plaudits for his performance.

Now he steps into the ring to face Reece Bellotti for a super featherweight bout, with one eye on a return to a world title shot.

His test will be far from an easy one, against a former British champion looking for redemption - but it is a must-win for his hopes.

Here, DAZN News lays out Padley's potential route to victory against his next opponent - and how he can climb back to the top.

Secure a comfortable scalp

Bellotti arrives at the Utilita Arena Sheffield reeling from a last-round exit to Ryan Garner in his Lonsdale Belt defence in July.

At 20-6, the star has his share of losses, but his domestic success speaks to his impressive skill as a canny operator in the ring.

Padley will need to find his way through the bout in the early stages, lest Bellotti be able to exploit his impressive tank late on.

Settle on a division

With his next bout out of the way - and victory in tow - Padley will have an immediate choice about his future weight class to make.

He previously operated at lightweight, and remains favourably ranked by several sanctioning bodies, keeping him in the conversation.

But super featherweight may yet prove to be a division he fancies more, with its summit arguably splintered and ripe for the taking.

Bank a big name

Few names come bigger in the lower divisions that Stevenson, and Padley's nine-round stand against him did no harm to his skills.

Save a points win over ex-European champion Mark Chamberlain last year though, he's arguably still lacking a marquee victory.

That will be the next step to any title shot; proof that he can clean out a top-fifteen opponent, and with style, as he pushes for glory.

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