Shakur Stevenson’s Ninth-Round TKO Secures WBC Title Defense
Shakur Stevenson retained the WBC lightweight championship on February 22, 2025, stopping Josh Padley after nine rounds at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Padley had only a few days to prepare after replacing Floyd Schofield, who withdrew because of illness. The late change turned a planned title defense into an unexpected opportunity for the British challenger, who arrived from his day job as an electrician to face the unbeaten champion. Stevenson improved to 23-0 with the win. Reuters’ ringside report described Padley’s short notice and the corner’s decision to end the fight after the ninth.
Stevenson boxed patiently while Padley tried to make the most of his sudden title shot. The champion’s southpaw jab and straight left helped him control distance, and he increasingly found openings as the rounds went on. Padley continued to press despite being hurt and dropped three times in the ninth round. His corner threw in the towel at the end of the round, bringing the contest to a close. The stoppage was a technical knockout, not a decision, and Stevenson kept the green-and-gold belt he had won in 2023.
The result followed a proposed matchup with Schofield that had to be scrapped at the last minute. Padley entered the contest unbeaten at 15-0, but he had never faced an opponent near Stevenson’s level or competed for a major world title. He showed resolve and made the champion work, but the gap in experience was clear as Stevenson adjusted and increased his pressure. The bout was part of the Beterbiev–Bivol 2 card in Riyadh, where Dmitry Bivol later defeated Artur Beterbiev by majority decision. The fight report also recorded Joseph Parker’s second-round stoppage of Martin Bakole on the same bill.
Stevenson went on to defend the WBC title against William Zepeda in July 2025, winning a unanimous decision at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. He then moved up to junior welterweight and, on January 31, 2026, outpointed Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden to win the WBO title and become a four-division world champion. All three judges scored the Lopez fight 119-109, and the victory took Stevenson to 25-0. Reuters’ report on that result documents the championship move and scorecards.
After the Lopez win, the WBC declared its lightweight title vacant under its rules for champions who hold titles with another sanctioning body in a different weight class. Stevenson’s Padley victory remains a significant defense in the run that carried him from lightweight to a fourth division. The Ring’s account of the WBC decision explains why the belt was vacated. Stevenson signed with Zuffa Boxing on July 9, 2026, according to The Ring. His professional record remains 25-0 with 11 knockouts, according to The Ring’s fighter profile.
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Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
