Electrician ditches day job to fight for boxing world...

Part-time electrician Josh Padley has ditched the day job to head to Saudi Arabia and challenge for a world title against one of the best boxers on the planet on four days’ notice. After leaving a job site on Wednesday, the Doncaster fighter has made the journey to Riyadh overnight to take on WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.

Image Credit: Metro [Beterbeiv v Bivol – The Last Crescendo Press Conference]

That fight is part of one of the biggest boxing cards in history, headlined by the undisputed light-heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol with Daniel Dubois also defending his IBF heavyweight title against Joseph Parker. Stevenson was scheduled to defend his title against fellow American Floyd Schofield.

Image Credit: Metro [Anthony Joshua v Daniel Dubois: Riyadh Season - Wembley Edition]

However, the 22-year-old was removed from the fight late on Tuesday after being hospitalised following accusations and rumours he had been ‘poisoned’. With officials scrambling to find a new opponent, Padley got the call and booked his flights. The 29-year-old has fought 15 times as a professional, winning every bout to date.

The vast majority of his victories have come on small hall shows around the country with no major promotional backing behind him. Last September, he was given the opportunity to impress on the biggest stage, fighting Mark Chamberlain on the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois card at Wembley Stadium.

The heavy underdog heading into that fight, Padley stunned Chamberlain to get the victory. Padley took eight weeks off to prepare for that fight but was back to work short after. ‘Obviously, if they’re the bigger fights, then I might be able to take the camp off again, with the help of my sponsors that helped me out with this camp so I can be full-time again for the next camp,’ Padley told talkSPORT.

‘But I will go back into work and pick my tools back up for Monday after my holiday, because like I say, I don’t know what the offers are just yet, so I’ve gotta put things in place, just in case it isn’t right.’. Padley has kept himself in superb condition on the off-chance another he opportunity would come his way with developments in Saudi this week providing that against Stevenson.

Aged 27, the American is already a three-weight world champion win 22 wins from 22 fights to his name. The New Jersey fighter is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet. A win for Padley would be regarded as one of the biggest boxing upsets in recentyears.