Josh Padley vs Aqib Fiaz full fight details – Official weigh-in results, running order, ringwalk times, quotes, odds, prediction
World title challenger Josh Padley (18-1, 6 KOs) and Commonwealth title contender Aqib Fiaz (14-1, 2 KOs) shared a tense final stare down after both making weight today in Sheffield ahead of their EBU European Super Featherweight Championship clash at the Utilita Arena – live worldwide on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.
Defending EBU champion Josh ‘Paddy’ Padley insisted at yesterday’s Press Conference that he will not be beaten in front of his Yorkshire faithful this weekend as ‘Ambush’ Aqib Fiaz warned he will ‘spark out’ the former electrician.
Elsewhere on the card, undefeated prospect Ibraheem Sulaimaan (10-0, 5 KOs) challenges Ibrahim Nadim (16-1, 2 KOs) for the English Super Featherweight Title.
Teenage Heavyweight sensation – and proud York native – Leo Atang (6-0, 5 KOs) is out to extend his scintillating start to life in the professional ranks hen he faces France’s Fouad Shaili (5-4-2, 3 KOs). Continental opponents are a regular part of these bills, and anyone whose interest in Europe extends beyond the ring can read our guide to online casinos in Europe.
Middleweight rivals Aaron Bowen (7-1, 5 KOs) and Troy Coleman (15-4-1, 7 KOs) collide earlier in the evening, with rising stars Adam Maca (5-0, 5 KOs) and Connor Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) both out to stretch their respective winning records. Undercard bouts of this kind often draw plenty of speculation, and anyone placing a bet from a handset can read our guide to pay by phone betting first.
Plus, emerging Steel City Gym duo Chris Mulunda (2-0) and Ed Hardy (6-0, 2 KOs) are in action in the prelims.
Here are the Official Weigh-In results in full:
Prelims live on DAZN from 5pm
Chris Mulunda (161lbs) vs Connor Goulding (161.75lbs)
4×3 Middleweight Contest
Connor Mitchell (129.05lbs) vs Rodrigo Matias Areco (129.70lbs)
4×3 Featherweight Contest
Ed Hardy (127.60lbs) vs Jesus Carrasco (128.05lbs)
6×3 Featherweight Contest
Adam Maca (129.90lbs) vs Cesar Ignacio Paredes (130.65lbs)
6×3 Super Featherweight Contest
Main Card live on DAZN from 7pm
Aaron Bowen (161.90lbs) vs Troy Coleman (159.45lbs)
10×3 Middleweight Contest
Leo Atang (236.20lbs) vs Fouad Shaili (263.80lbs)
6×3 Heavyweight Contest
Ibrahim Nadim (129.90lbs) vs Ibraheem Sulaimaan (129.45lbs)
10×3 English Super Featherweight Championship
Josh Padley (129.40lbs) vs Aqib Fiaz (129.65lbs)
12×3 EBU European Super Featherweight Championship
Quotes
Josh Padley: “It’s all about opportunities in this game. Stay ready and when the opportunities come, roll the dice and take the risk. I’ve built a career from that, and this time an opportunity has come and I’m now the headliner – thanks for Matchroom and DAZN for keeping the show on. It’s another experience that I’m more than willing to step up to the plate for. I need to keep building. I’ve always said that I’d love to get back to a World Title opportunity, given a full training camp and given a bit more than four days’ notice. The way that I do that is to keep winning and keep progressing. We’ve picked up three titles with Matchroom now; two international titles and a European Title. Now it’s time to defend that title – the first time doing that as a professional. I’m looking forward to that experience.”
Aqib Fiaz: “Obviously I’ve had a bit of inactivity but that’s through no fault of our own. I was scheduled to fight in January and then the show was cancelled, and then through Ramadan I was unable to do the new date. Some things are just written I believe. I feel like this fight was written. This opportunity was there, and it’s ended up as the main event. These things are meant to be. I feel like Saturday night for me is meant to be and I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Like I said earlier to you Jamie, in the gym no stone has been left unturned. I’ve done everything in my power and on Saturday I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”
More quotesBetting Odds
3/10 Padley
7/2 Fiaz
20/1 Draw
Prediction
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “I rate the champion as superior in experience. Fiaz was unfortunate to meet Reece Bellotti just as was beginning his rampage through the super-featherweight division. He’s a very tidy, elusive, sharp, difficult operator.
“Paddy has had eight rounds at world level against Shakur Stevenson, a fight he took at a few days notice and did himself proud. Then he’s had three very decent wins in a row, including a 10-round points decision over Fiaz’s conqueror, Bellotti. He was very impressive and destructive to win the European belt in two rounds. It was a great single shot, a left hook to floor Belmehdi, then he was clinical in the finish, tied up a bit, but then he made space to get clean shots off for a second knockdown. Prior to the Shakur fight, he registered a fantastic victory over Mark Chamberlain.
“He knows his way around the ring, good on the back foot, good going forward, has a bit of power, patient and professional.
“Josh Padley to win on points. But, 12-rounds is a long time to spend in the ring, so I wouldn’t rule out a stoppage win either.”
