Padley steps in for Feb. 22 title fight vs. Stevenson

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has a new opponent for Saturday's mega event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Josh Padley agreed to challenge Stevenson on three days' notice, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, announced Wednesday morning.

Stevenson's original opponent, Floyd Schofield, withdrew from the title fight Tuesday due to an illness.

Padley is an undefeated 29-year-old from England. He's coming off a unanimous decision win over Mark Chamberlain last September on the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua undercard. Padley has four knockouts in 15 professional wins.

Stevenson is making the second defense of his 135-pound belt since capturing it with a decision win over Edwin De Los Santos in November 2023. The 27-year-old Newark native has been a champion in three different weight classes.

In Saturday's main event, Artur Beterbiev will defend the undisputed light heavyweight championship in a highly anticipated rematch with Dmitry Bivol. In the co-headliner, Dubois will put the IBF heavyweight title on the line against Joseph Parker.