JOSH Padley made a winning start to life at 130lbs, overcoming the forever game Reece Bellotti, who lost his Lonsdale Belt to Ryan Garner last time out, claiming a generously wide points victory after a hard-fought 10 rounds.
Less than three months after a damning defeat to Garner, Reece Bellotti, 20-7 (15 KOs), made a swift return to action and looked to give Josh Padley, 17-1 (5 KOs), an unwelcoming introduction to the domestic super-featherweight scene.
Doncaster’s Padley had fought at both super-lightweight and for the WBC lightweight world title within his last three contests. Although, despite the drop in levels, a scrap with the tough former British champion presented an entirely different challenge to that of a clash with the supremely skilled Shakur Stevenson.
In Bellotti, a veteran at the British level, Padley was tasked with a difficult debut at 130lbs, a rough, rugged and experienced opponent, well-schooled in the dark arts and capable of spoiling the party in front of his South Yorkshire faithful.
Unrelenting with front-footed pressure and unforgiving with work on the inside, Bellotti took the fight to the divisional newcomer from the get-go and was undeterred by the return fire of the home fighter.
Unleashing gut-wrenching body work throughout, it was Bellotti who ensured that the bout was fought in his style, but Padley kept his composure and used his superior technical skills when permitted with the opportunity.
It was those eye-catching moments of success from Padley, when able to box off the back foot, that were able to sway the judges, who awarded a unanimous decision (99-92, 97-93 twice) to ‘Paddy’, that failed to reflect the attempts of the valiant ‘Bomber’.
As a result, Josh Padley gets his hands on the previously vacant WBA International super-featherweight title, and he will thus expect to rise from his #6 spot in the updated world rankings.
Other Results
- Joe Howarth vs Karl Sampson – 6 Rounds – 135lbs – Howarth (PTS)
- Joe Hayden vs Angelo Dragone – 6 Rounds – 147lbs – Hayden (PTS)
- Conner Tudsbury vs Khalid Gradia – 6 Rounds – 175lbs – Tudsbury (RD4 TKO)
- Ibraheem Sulaiman vs James Chereji – 8 Rounds – 130lbs – Sulaiman (PTS)
- Hamza Uddin vs Paul Roberts – 10 Rounds – 112lbs – Uddin (RD5 TKO)
- Junaid Bostan vs Bilal Fawaz 2 – 10 Rounds – 154lbs – Fawaz (MD)
- Dave Allen vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – 12 Rounds – 200lbs+ – Makhmudov (UD)
