Boxing fans were expecting Shakur Stevenson to face Floyd Schofield, but instead, we got Padley—an opponent who stepped in on just a few days' notice. In fact, Padley was working as an electrician just days before getting the call to replace Schofield. With no proper training camp or preparation, he took a flight straight to Saudi Arabia and stepped into the ring against one of the most skilled fighters in the world. That alone deserves respect.

However, once the fight started, it was clear he was no match for Shakur. Stevenson showed some rust after being inactive for a while, but he still controlled the entire fight. He started off slow, using his jab and feeling Padley out, but by the fourth round, he began breaking him down systematically. Shakur’s body shots proved to be too much, dropping Padley three times before eventually stopping him in the ninth round.

There was a moment in the fight where Stevenson appeared to be nursing his hand, which raised some concerns. However, he did what he was supposed to do—get the stoppage. Going 12 rounds with a last-minute replacement wouldn’t have looked good for him, so securing the knockout was the best outcome.

Now, the big question is: What’s next for Shakur? He deserves to be in the ring with top-tier opponents, but the real issue is whether the top guys are willing to fight him. In my opinion, this should be the year we finally get Shakur vs. Tank Davis—a fight that makes the most sense right now. If not, a showdown with Vasiliy Lomachenko would be just as intriguing. There are big fights out there, but the top names need to step up. Fans are tired of waiting—we want to see Shakur Stevenson in a truly competitive fight against an elite opponent.

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