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Shakur Stevenson, Josh Padley gear up for 'crazy' showdown in Riyadh
Things don't always go according to plan in sports, and Shakur Stevenson learned that first-hand this week when his scheduled WBC lightweight title defence against Floyd Schofield at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo was turned upside down just three days before the fight was set to take place.
Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) will still defend the belt on Saturday, but it won't be against Schofield. Instead, the 27-year-old will face Josh Padley, who replaced Schofield on three days' notice due to an illness forcing the latter out of the fight.
"It’s been kind of crazy, there has been a lot going on, but I remain focused," Stevenson said at Thursday's pre-fight press conference.
"I know I have put in a lot of work this training camp and I come in here with the same mentality. I know this is a guy who wants to take food off my table and I’m not going to let him."
The American spent weeks preparing for his fellow countryman in Schofield, but now has to pivot to take on another undefeated fighter in Britain's Padley, a relative unknown at this level despite his 15-0 record.
It's a tough ask, but Stevenson is confident that his experience will see him through.
"I fought in the amateurs, I think it reminds me of the amateurs where you don’t know who you’re going to fight next," he said.
"It’s okay, I’m going to figure him out and take care of business."
If Stevenson has any concerns about a lack of preparedness, then Padley surely has an even stronger case. The 29-year-old started the week on a different continent and is now getting ready for his first world title shot.
"The last 48 hours have been absolutely crazy for me, a dream opportunity," Padley said.
"This is the pinnacle of boxing, and this is what I’m here for."
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