Miracles do happen, and no one knows that better than Josh Padley. From installing solar panels to stepping into the ring with pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson, the Doncaster native is living a dream come true. It seems that HE Turki Alalshikh himself personally handpicked Padley to face Stevenson, likely after Padley’s impressive showing against Alalshikh’s favorite English fighter, Mark Chamberlain, last September. Now, after nearly going the distance with Stevenson in the Last Crescendo Fight, Padley has rediscovered his strength and committed to boxing full-time. “Luckily I am in a position now where I can probably pack that in and fully dedicate my life to boxing,” Padley told Sky Sports.
However, Padley’s decision to hang up his tools and leave his part-time job as an electrician may not necessarily guarantee his future in boxing. Why? It all comes down to the fight purse. While the official payout hasn’t been disclosed yet, rumors are swirling that Padley earned nowhere near half of what the WBC World Lightweight Champion took home. If the rumors prove true, he may need to rethink his choices.
Just days after his WBC World Lightweight title shot in Riyadh, The Boxing Man took to X to share a post. The post read, “Reported fight purses from weekend: Bivol- $10 Million Beterbiev -$10 Million Parker – $2 Million Bakole – $600,000 Stevenson – $2.1 Million Padley – $500,000 Adames – $1.2 Million Sheeraz – $800,000 Zhang – $2.5 Million Kabayel – $1.2 Million Buatsi – $550,000 Smith – $660,000.”
Reported fight purses from weekend:
Bivol- $10 Million
Beterbiev -$10 Million
Parker – $2 Million
Bakole – $600,000
Stevenson – $2.1 Million
Padley – $500,000
Adames – $1.2 Million
Sheeraz – $800,000
Zhang – $2.5 Million
Kabayel – $1.2 Million
Buatsi – $550,000
Smith – $660,000 pic.twitter.com/i2AZXmpx84
— The Boxing Man (@TheBoxingMan_) February 24, 2025
Having turned pro in 2019, Padley only fought 14 times before stepping into the ring with the future Hall of Famer. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s secured a title shot, marking his first major international bout. And as far as his net worth is concerned, while the exact amount remains under wraps, it’s estimated to be just north of $1 million. And from his September 2024 victory, Paddy reportedly earned $30,000. And if he really bagged $500,000 from the February 22nd fight, it would perhaps be the highest in his young career. But will this be enough to fuel his fire moving forward?
Despite being a newcomer, Josh Padley has already caught the eye of boxing’s big guns. If he keeps making waves, he might just rise to the occasion, not only in skill but in payday too. But who’s been first in line to witness his potential?
Shakur Stevenson’s struggles: Padley’s impressive showing
Let’s be honest. The abrupt shift of opponents has proven challenging for both fighters. How, you ask? Well, the Newark native had to adjust his strategy on the fly. No matter how skilled Shakur Stevenson is, it’s always tough to pivot against someone you haven’t studied extensively.
For Padley, who entered the fight with minimal preparation, it was a tall order. But he gave it his all, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Terence Crawford, during an interview with Seconds Out, shared his thoughts on the fight. “He had a late replacement; he had to adjust and he got the job done. It don’t matter if he did it in the first round or last round. He got the job done,” the WBA Super Welterweight stated. While Crawford didn’t directly praise Josh, his words speak volumes about Padley’s performance.
And then there’s Gervonta Davis, who, seeing Shakur struggle to land punches in the early rounds, took to X and posted “Lol.” While not giving Padley direct praise, his post suggests that with more time, Josh might’ve given the champ a run for his money.
Despite being the underdog, Padley’s strong showing against Shakur Stevenson could be the springboard to bigger fights in the future. So, do you think the payday he received was fair? And most importantly, who do you think he should face next?
The post Boxing Rumor: Josh Padley’s Fight Purse vs. Shakur Stevenson Is Not Enough to Retire From Electrician Job appeared first on EssentiallySports.