RETURNING to home shores and local action following his brave and bold boxing bash out in Riyadh, Josh Padley scored a knockout victory to delight his fans.
Picking up the WBA International lightweight bauble, Padley stopped Marko Cvetanovic in round five, dropping the Serbian twice before referee Steve Gray counted him out at 1-13 of the fifth (scheduled for 10 rounds).
Padley used his usual raiding attacks to get inside quickly on the lanky southpaw as 29-year-old Cvetanovic tried to grapple and hold to avoid any damage.
Matchroom’s new signing steadily increased the tempo, forcing his foe onto the back foot. Padley gave a sterling short-notice effort in February when lasting into the ninth round against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
That offering did his stock no harm at all, even in defeat. It was back down to earth in the Sheffield Canon Medical Arena tonight, sending Marko Cvetanovic, 13-1 (6 KOs), to the canvas and out.
Padley improves to 16-1, recording his fifth stoppage. He came to prominence in September 2024, stunning unbeaten Mark Chamberlain. Now he has another scalp on the record and the promotional backing to punch his way back towards the likes of Stevenson and company.
