Stevenson Defeats Padley to Retain WBC Title

Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight title by defeating Josh Padley with a ninth-round TKO at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Stevenson, initially set to fight Floyd Schofield, faced Padley as a late replacement due to Schofield's withdrawal from illness. Despite Padley's courageous effort, he was outmatched by Stevenson's speed and power, leading to three knockdowns in the ninth round before his corner threw in the towel. Stevenson, now 23-0 with 11 KOs, has been criticized for a defensive style in the past but showed aggression and skill in this bout. The victory continues Stevenson's pursuit of high-profile fights against opponents like Vasiliy Lomachenko and Gervonta Davis. Padley, an electrician by trade, stepped up on short notice for his first world title fight, highlighting his determination despite being the underdog.