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    Josh Padley ready to quit day job as an electrician after fighting world champion Shakur Stevenson at four days’ notice

    JOSH PADLEY has admitted he is ready to give up his day job after fighting lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson.The Doncaster bruiser took on Stevenson at just four days’ notice after Floyd Schofield dropped out after being allegedly ‘poisoned’.Josh Padley took on lightweight world champion Shakur StevensonCredit: GettyHe is ready to go full-time in boxingCredit: GettyPadley, 29, may have lost the bout, but last nine rounds and earned plenty of plaudits for his performance.He has now insisted that he is ready to box full-time and give up his part-time job as an electrician.He had been managing the load by training alongside the part-time role.He had even been working on a construction site on the Tuesday morning before he got the call to see if he could fight StevensonREAD MORE ON SPORTHe told Sky Sports: “Luckily I am in a position now where I can probably pack that in and fully dedicate my life to boxing.”I’m grateful for that, thank you to [Turki Alalshikh] for giving me that opportunity, we’ll be back.”There’s more of that to come.”That was four days’ notice. Eight-week camp and I know I’ll be better.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPadley was presented with a medal by the WBC after the fight with Stevenson.He joked: “Not quite the hardware I had in mind to come back with.I was meant to be doing DIY in Doncaster this weekend, now I’m on a world title fight – my boss isn’t best pleased”But the rebuild will be on and very good possibility of being a full-time athlete.”Padley also admitted that he left the ring after the defeat to Stevenson without any regrets.He added: “I would have loved to have got the win and there would have been some back story to it, but didn’t get it.”I tried my hardest, no regrets, I gave it everything I could but the body wasn’t conditioned to take them shots.”He made a name for himself after beating Alalshikh favourite Mark Chamberlain in September 2024.Stevenson spoke about the fight after being named the win and insisted he could have finished it earlier.He said: “I barely got touched. Yeah, I probably could have got the stoppage a little bit earlier, but there’s always going to be something to critique.”As long as I enjoyed what I did, that’s all that matters.”I was knocking out the ring rust. I fought in July. If I can stay active and stay locked in, I’m good.READ MORE SUN STORIES”He was supposed to come in here and give it his all, make sure he can make it to the 12th round.”That’s what he was trying to do. So, I succeeded at my job and he was trying to do his job.”Who is Josh Padley and what is his boxing record?Josh Padley is a British Lightweight boxer who has recently rose to fame after fans have found out that he is a part-time electrician.Before his most recent fight, Padley was seen fighting on small fight events against much lesser-known boxers, forcing the electrician to keep his part-time job for the much-needed income.His last fight held at Wembley Stadium truly put him on the map with a huge upset after beating Turki Alalshikh’s favourite fighter, Mark Chamberlain.Padley has been a professional boxer for just six years now and with a record of 15 wins and zero losses he now takes a huge step in his career as he takes on Shakur Stevenson for the WBC World Lightweight title.With a win on Saturday night, it would be one of the biggest upsets in boxing history and one of the greatest underdog stories we have seen in recent British boxing. More

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    Tyson Fury has phone call with Saudi boxing chief amid ongoing retirement as Anthony Joshua fight hangs in balance

    SAUDI boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has revealed he’s recently been in contact with Tyson Fury.Fury stunned the boxing world last month by announcing his retirement, which came on the back of consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.Tyson Fury announced his shock retirement last monthCredit: REUTERSHis fifth retirement has seemingly scuppered a grudge match with Anthony JoshuaCredit: REUTERSSaudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has revealed he’s recently spoken to FuryCredit: GETTYIt seemingly put the final nail into the coffin of a long-overdue domestic dust-up with Anthony Joshua, which Alalshikh is eager to make.Alalshikh has since reached out to the Gypsy King, although the topic of boxing didn’t come up in their conversation,He told The Stomping Ground: “I want Tyson [next for Joshua].“I spoke with him, but I don’t talk about boxing.READ MORE ON FURY”I just check about his health and his family. “I think maybe he’ll return. Yes ,[I think he will return], I hope so.”Fury, 36, has remained radio silent on his fighting future since his bizarre hanging up of the gloves.Despite his radio silence, AJ isn’t giving up hope of the Battle of Britain coming to fruition later this year.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion told iFL TV: “I feel like it’s the best fight [for me].Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS”People might say [Joseph] Parker, people might say – I don’t know.”But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.Tyson Fury retires from boxing with cryptic ‘Dick Turpin wore a mask’ jibe to leave Anthony Joshua fight dead in water “You could say it’s been years in the making. But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving.”And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up.”And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser.”And there’s going to be bloodshed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.” More

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    I watched Gerald McClellan fight for his life after horror KO – 30 years on it still makes me feel sick to my stomach

    IT IS 30 years ago to the day that Nigel Benn, with an almost medieval ferocity, battered American Gerald McClellan to retain his WBC world super-middleweight title.Normally after such a blood-chilling, super-human display of guts and raw courage – when Benn had tigerishly fought back after twice being on the brink of defeat – there would have been an outpouring of elation.Nigel Benn’s brutal win over Gerald McClellan is 30 years old.. but still makes Colin Hart feel sickCredit: GettyBenn’s flurry of punches left McClellan counted out in the tenth roundCredit: PABut let me make it perfectly clear: the tragic events following the Dark Destroyer’s infamous 10-round KO victory – and there are still repercussions to this day – ensured there was certainly no cause for celebration.A 12,000 sell-out London Arena and a further 13million viewers tuning-in live on ITV watched horrified as McClellan was transformed from a superbly fit athlete to a shell of a man lying unconscious on the canvas as three doctors and an anaesthetist fought desperately to save his life.Recalling those scenes from three decades ago leaves me with the same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as it did then.In my SunSport fight report, I said there had never been a more brutal battle in Britain – and thankfully there has never been another like it since.We watched, hearts in our mouths, as the medics spent 15 minutes going about their work.McClellan was given an injection to relax him, put in a head-brace and had a oxygen mask strapped to his face. He was stretchered out of the ring and rushed to the nearby Royal London Hospital.There, waiting to operate, was neurosurgeon John Sutcliffe, who removed a blood clot from his brain.After surgery, McClellan lay in a coma for two weeks before being flown back to his home in Freeport, Illinois, where he has been cared for by his sister Lisa ever since.His devastating brain injuries have left him blind, almost completely deaf and confined to a wheelchair.Ironically, Benn was taken to the same hospital and placed in the same ward as McClellan suffering from extreme exhaustion, a fractured nose, fractured jaw and passing blood in his urine due to kidney damage.McClellan took too much of a battering and failed to get off his knees in the tenth roundCredit: GettyMcClellan was taken out of the arena on a stretcher after suffering life-changing injuriesCredit: PAMcLellan was left in a coma and blind, while also mostly deaf, following the fightColin Hart’s fight report from the dramatic fightCredit: The SunWe were told that Nigel went over to his comatose opponent kissed him on the cheek and said “sorry”.In hindsight the omens weren’t good for this meeting between – pound-for-pound – two of the most devastating punchers of their era.They just didn’t like each other.If ever there was an Ugly American it was McClellan who arrived on these shores with a reputation for being as mean and nasty outside the ring as he was inside.The great Manny Steward, who trained dozens of world champions including Tommy ‘Hit Man’ Hearns and Lennox Lewis made no bones about it when he said: “Out of all the fighters I have trained, Gerald probably had the biggest mean streak of them all.”McClellan, having won all but two of his 31 fights by KO, prophetically said two months before he met Benn: “You have to go to war. You have to be prepared to die. That’s what boxing is.”And his cornerman, Stan Johnson, put in his two pennyworth by declaring: “Gerald didn’t want to win the fight. He actually wanted to kill Nigel Benn.”McClellan had to be respected as a formidable world-class fighting machine, but for me he was an extremely flawed human being.His hobby was breeding fighting pit bulls. How can anyone possibly warm to anyone who admits to tying up the muzzle of a Labrador and throwing it into the jaws of his prize pit bull and watch it being torn to pieces?Because of his violent reputation, McClellan was a 1-3 favourite going into the fight that was choc-full of drama and controversy from the the start.Just 35 seconds after the opening bell, McClellan trapped Benn against the ropes and – with both fists crashing against his skull – forced him out of the ring onto the apron.Recalling the moment, Nigel said “I didn’t know a man could hit that hard.”Nigel Benn was sent flying out of the ring in the first round, such was McClellan’s powerCredit: GettyThe pair fought until the tenth round in a savage war of attritionCredit: Allsport – GettyBenn managed to scramble back with the count on nine, but it seemed impossible for him to survive.Yet he tore into McClellan with both hands and it was obvious we were about to witness a sensational non-stop battle of attrition.From then on, the action ebbed and flowed with a violence that was frightening in its intensity.In the eighth, a desperately-tired Benn was floored by a tremendous McClellan right.Nigel got up to take the mandatory eight count and, as he stood in a neutral corner swaying like a sapling in the wind, his face grotesquely swollen, he looked more like the Dark Destroyed than Dark Destroyer.He seemed to have little chance of pulling through.Yet somehow, from somewhere, he managed to dredge up a few more ounces of strength and willpower and once again launched himself at his tormentor.He shook McClellan with a right to the chin and that was the moment the American looked fearful and started to crumble – perhaps realising he was faced with an unstoppable, unrelenting force.Two rounds later, another Benn onslaught sent McClellan to his knees. Managing to haul himself upright he was met by a short right uppercut.This time – fully conscious – he stayed down on one knee as French referee Alfred Azaro, counted him out.McClellan eventually sank to his knees and failed to get back up after Benn’s barrageCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe pair have since been reunited after McClellan’s life-altering injuriesCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBenn also ended up in hospital but avoided any serious, long-term injuriesCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdI’m ashamed to say I was guilty of thinking McClellan had committed boxing’s cardinal sin and had decided he’d taken enough punishment and quit.At that moment – before the stark reality set in – the crowd had worked themselves into a frenzy of excitement at having seen Benn’s unbelievable courage prevail against the odds.There have been many theories that McClellan – who showed signs of distress after being accidentally head-butted in the ninth – could have finished beaten but unscathed if the rookie referee, in charge of only his second world title fight, or Johnson had read the signs correctly and pulled him out.We will never know.There’s no doubt that Benn, 61 – four years older than McClellan and now living in Sydney – was so traumatised it changed his life completely and led him to become a born-again Christian and preacher.Several years later, Nigel said: “Sure I wanted to win – but not at that price. On that night my heart went out of boxing. “Let me tell you something – inflicting that kind of damage does something to you.”Benn was back at the London Arena five months later, knocking out Italian Vincenzo Nardiello – but he was never the same fighter again and he retired after losing what would be his final three fights.For a time there was bad blood between Benn and the McClellan family – Lisa felt Nigel hadn’t shown enough remorse or compassion for her brother.But, in 2007, the rift was healed when Benn helped organise a star-studded charity evening at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, that raised £200,000 for McClellan.That money has helped to make Gerald’s life as comfortable as it can possibly be.However, I suggest no amount of cash is any sort of consolation for a young man in his prime having his future shattered in under half an hour.Benn showed off a cut cheek as he suffered a fractured nose, fractured jaw and kidney damageCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdMcClellan was in clear distress as Benn unleashed a flurry of blowsCredit: PA More

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    ‘Thought I was going to have a heart attack’ – Eddie Hearn reveals health episode during Callum Smith vs Joshua Buatsi

    EDDIE HEARN thought he was “going to have a heart attack” during the epic fight between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi.The Brit light-heavyweight duo put on an early contender for Fight of the Year on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol last Saturday.Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi went to war in Saudi Arabia last weekendCredit: GETTYSmith edged a thrilling contest via unanimous decisionCredit: GETTYMatchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn’s heart rate was racing during the fightCredit: GETTYSmith emerged victorious from the back-and-forth contest, ending Buatsi’s undefeated record to claim the interim WBO 175lbs title.And all the drama had the heart of Smith promoter Hearn racing at a million miles an hour – so much so that he became a bit dizzy.He told The Stomping Ground: “I actually thought I was going to have a heart attack tonight. I really did.”During the Callum Smith fight, I sat down and felt a bit dizzy.READ MORE BOXING NEWS”I do often wonder… you never know when you’re on the verge of keeling over, do you?”I was thinking to myself, ‘If the Good lord took me now, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go.’ Would it?'”Hearn was blown away by the grit and guts shown by Liverpudlian Smith, telling DAZN: “Callum Smith was unbelievable.”What a fight. That was an incredible domestic tussle. I’m very proud of Callum, I thought it was a brilliant performance.Most read in SportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSEddie Hearn was blown away by Dmitry Bivol’s performance in his rematch with Artur BeterbievCredit: GETTY”Shoutout to Buatsi as well because he was tough as old boots but the right man won.”Hearn’s heart rate was undoubtedly elevated during the epic rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol, in which the latter exacted his revenge 133 days after losing their first thriller.Usyk spotted ‘giving Anthony Joshua tips on how to beat Tyson Fury’ in ringside footage at Beterbiev vs Bivol 2.mp4He said: “I think a lot of people felt he [Bivol] won the first fight. It was obviously very close.‘It was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed.”I thought he won the first two rounds and then Beterbiev won the next three I think but it was the way he won them.”What Bivol did was just incredible, young fighters should look at the way he boxed.”To do that to Beterbiev, who is an absolute beast and one of the greatest fighters of our generation.”It’s the kind of performance that cements you as a pound-for-pound king.” More

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    ‘There’s going to be blood shed, and it ain’t gonna be mine’ – Anthony Joshua still thinks Tyson Fury fight will happen

    ANTHONY JOSHUA has vowed to spill Tyson Fury’s blood in an epic Battle of Britain – if his rival comes out of retirement.The pair’s long-overdue domestic dust-up seemed finally set to come to fruition after Fury’s back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk last year.Tyson Fury was on course for a grudge match with Anthony Joshua before announcing his retirement last monthCredit: GETTYAJ isn’t buying the Gypsy King’s retirement and reckons he will fight againCredit: GETTYThe Watford warrior insists he’ll shed Fury’s blood if they do end up fightingCredit: AFPBut Fury threw a major spanner into the works last month by announcing his FIFTH retirement, although AJ isn’t giving up hope of putting a brutal beating on the Gypsy King.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion told iFL TV: “I feel like it’s the best fight [for me].”People might say [Joseph] Parker, people might say – I don’t know.”But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.READ MORE ON AJ”You could say it’s been years in the making. But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving.”And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up.”And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser and there’s going to be bloodshed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”Fury, 36, has remained radio silent on his fighting future since his latest hanging up of the gloves.Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut Joshua isn’t convinced we’ve seen the last of the Wythenshawe warrior.”Has he retired with the possibility of coming back?” Joshua asked when quizzed about Fury’s retirement “Yes.Anthony Joshua gives cryptic update over future amid Tyson Fury fight talk in interview at Beterbiev vs Bivol 2″Has he retired? Yes. Is he going to come back next month? No. In short, he might come back but he is retired.”Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh is desperate to make the fight, telling The Stomping Ground: “I want Joshua vs Tyson.”I spoke with Fury but not about boxing. I just checked about his health and his family.”I think he maybe will return. I hope so.”Joshua, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the ring since his brutal fifth-round KO defeat to former sparring partner Daniel Dubois last September.A February rematch with Triple D was on the cards before his team convinced him to rest and recover from niggling injuries.And he’s keeping his cards close to his chest over when he’ll next be back in the squared circle.When asked about his ring return, AJ said: “More fights, this is my life, this is what I do.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Right now I sit outside and I watch and then I’ll make my return one day.”Right right I sit back as a fan and watch the great people in the sport I love.” More

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    KSI reveals private message he sent to Wayne Bridge after controversial John Terry joke led to collapse of fight

    KSI revealed he apologised to Wayne Bridge for making an insensitive remark about the ex-footballer’s infamous feud with John Terry. The YouTube sensation and former Premier League winner with Chelsea were set for a shock March 29 fight in Manchester.KSI apologised to Wayne Bridge for making an insensitive remarkBut after announcing the pay-per-view clash in January – KSI brought up Bridge’s controversial past with former Chelsea team-mate Terry.Terry allegedly had an affair with Bridge’s ex-partner Vanessa Perroncel in 2009 – something both have always denied.And after KSI referenced the alleged affair – Bridge pulled out of the fight just days later.KSI explained that he was playing the bad-guy role to help sell PPVs – and sent Bridge a message of apology. READ MORE IN boxing He said on his podcast: “I privately DM’d him. And the thing is, I messaged him like, ‘Bro, I’m not a d*** head…’ “But we’re selling the fight and I thought he should know that.” KSI added: “Wayne Bridge, I’m sorry. I’ve told you in DMs anyway but yeah, my bad.” Bridge has an 18-year-old son with ex-Vanessa and withdraw himself from the fight with KSI to avoid any further verbal warfare.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSIt came after KSI said: “Wayne Bridge, aren’t you the guy that let John Terry smash your ex? “That is what you are known for.”He then sung a crude chant about former model Vanessa – who has always denied ever having an affair with Bridge’s former team-mate Terry.KSI breaks silence on sick Wayne Bridge taunt and refuses to apologise to former Chelsea star KSI, 31, will now fight replacement Dillon Danis, also 31, at Misfits 21 at the AO Arena. The social media star has not fought since losing to Tommy Fury, 25, in October 2023 which was the first defeat of his career. Danis meanwhile lost his boxing debut to Logan Paul, 29, on the undercard that night. He was meant to fight KSI in January 2023 but pulled out – fuelling the bad blood between them. Dillon Danis will fight KSI instead of BridgeCredit: Getty More

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    Tommy Fury set for awkward reunion with KSI and Darren Till as brother Roman fights Netflix star on Misfits undercard

    TOMMY FURY is set for an awkward reunion with KSI and Darren Till when brother Roman fights Chase DeMoor. Tommy controversially beat KSI on points in October 2023 and pulled out of his return bout against Till set for January. Tommy Fury is set for an awkward reunion with KSI and Darren TillCredit: InstagramKSI returns in Manchester on March 29Credit: SplashRoman Fury fights Chase DeMoor on the undercardCredit: Instagram / ChaseDeMoorBut he could be about to run into the pair after it was announced his brother Roman will take on American DeMoor on the Misfits 21 card. Headlining is KSI against rival Dillon Danis with Till facing ex-UFC star Darren Stewart on the undercard. Roman will be making his Misfits debut and will expectedly be cornered by dad John and 10-0 Tommy. A back and forth started after Roman, 28, posted on Instagram: “This fool is finally getting put to sleep.”READ MORE IN BOXINGDeMoor, who starred on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle, replied: “I’m shivering in my boots egg head.” Tommy, 25, also commented: “Easy work.” But DeMoor, 28, jibed: “Your ex gf easy work buddy.” A reference to Tommy’s break-up with Molly-Mae Hague. Roman is 4-0 in his career with DeMoor having four wins, four losses and one no-contest. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTommy beat KSI and underwent hand surgery afterwards before a scheduled return against Till. But after Till threatened to KICK the 2019 Love Islander in the head, he pulled out of the bout. Tommy still has not got a comeback fight lined up while KSI, 31, and Till, 32, will return on the same card. Darren Till returns on Misfits 21Credit: Getty More

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    Major blow to Tyson Fury as boxing legend’s property company is struck off

    TYSON Fury’s property company has been struck off because he failed to file any accounts.It is the latest blow for boxing’s Gypsy King, 36, who quit the ring for the fifth time in January, following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.Tyson Fury’s property company has been struck off because he failed to file any accountsCredit: PAThe former heavyweight champ, who was listed as sole director of GreenwayBalmoral Ltd, has submitted no paperwork since it was set up in January 2023, Companies House documents reveal.He was hit with a fine and warned last December that his real estate business would be struck off the register within two months unless objections were raised. It was dissolved last week via a compulsory strike-off action.A source said: “Questions over Tyson’s future remain after he suddenly quit the ring in January. read more on tyson fury “Clearly his future isn’t in property development.“His legion of fans are eager to see what he’ll do next.” Under the law, a company director can be personally fined for not filing accounts on time.The penalty is £1,500 for the first year and it doubles for the second.Most read in BoxingThe purpose of Tyson’s company was described as “buying and selling of own real estate” and “letting and operating of own or leased real estate”.Fury lives in a £1.7million home in Morecambe, Lancs, owns a £1million home in Cheshire, which dad John lives in, and has another £550,000 house in Lancaster.Tyson Fury called ‘daft as a brush’ by Paris as pair work out at gym Latest accounts from June 2024 show his other registered company, Tyson Fury Ltd, soared in value from £52million to £82million in the year to September 2023.Tyson announced his latest retirement last month, stating: “It’s been a blast.”But there is speculation he may return for a long-awaited show down with Anthony Joshua.Fury quit the ring for the fifth time in JanuaryCredit: GettyUnlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More