Exclusive:Doncaster's Josh Padley unfazed by promotion to Sheffield headliner as York's Leo Atang welcomes pressure

Some boxers would be fazed by being bumped up two places to an arena show’s headline slot.

Fortunately for Doncaster super-featherweight Josh Padley, chaos is something he has grown accustomed to.

The 30-year-old was plucked from relative obscurity to fight at Wembley Stadium in September 2024 and scored a major upset victory over Mark Chamberlain.

That win sent him to the bright lights of Riyadh, where he put on a valiant display in a loss to Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight belt.

He has since been riding the wave of momentum and will defend his EBU European Super-Featherweight Championship against Aqib Fiaz tonight (June 6).

Dalton Smith was supposed to top the bill at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena before injury called off his title defence against Alberto Puello. Galal Yafai and Ricardo Sandoval then took the headline spot, only for the former to succumb to injury.

Josh Padley unfazed by headliner promotion

"I mean as far as mad experiences go, the Saudi Arabia world title fight is going to take some serious topping,” Padley told The Yorkshire Post. “In terms of actually being taken aback by something unexpected, that's going to be a hard one to beat.

"I just sort of take it in my stride, nothing changes. I'm thankful that Matchroom are still putting the show on because with two headliners pulling out, there's multiple promoters out there that would have probably pulled the show.

“I guess it’s just another stage in the story of my unexpected career. Opportunities always seem to come last minute to me.

"It's no different in terms of fight or mental stage, it just means I'm fighting a little bit later, still the same opponent, still going to bring the same challenges in the ring and I'm still looking for the same outcome.”

Wary of underdog threat

Padley has been the underdog and is all too familiar with the benefits that tag can provide.

His own experiences of being the unexpected conqueror mean he will not be underestimating 23-year-old Oldham battler Fiaz.

"I think the Fiaz that you're going to see now on Saturday night is going to be a bit better than any of the other Fiaz’s that you've seen,” he said. “I think you can't really go off what he's done before because this is his biggest opportunity.

"He's going to have done everything by the book and he'd be a fool to have cut any corners, because I'm not a fighter that cuts any corners whatsoever.”

Leo Atang looking to continue ascent

The shuffling of the running order has also given a more prominent role to unbeaten York heavyweight Leo Atang, who will be looking to continue his ascent by disposing of 40-year-old Frenchman Fouad Shaili.

"I'm not even really thinking about it because I don't want to add more pressure onto myself,” the 19-year-old told The Yorkshire Post. “Obviously, it's good to have the pressure and stuff because everyone's watching you, everyone's expecting new things of you.

“For me, I feel like it's for a reason. They see the potential.”

Doncaster lightweight Ed Hardy and Sheffield welterweight Chris Mulunda will also be on the card, taking on Jesus Carrasco Bacchini and Connor Goulding respectively.

Josh Padley vs Aqib Fiaz and Leo Atang vs Fouad Shaili was streamed live exclusively on DAZN, the undisputed global home of boxing

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