Event: The Last Crescendo: Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2
Date: Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Weight Class: Lightweight (12 rounds)
Broadcaster: DAZN
Stakes: WBC World Lightweight Championship
In a virtuoso display of precision punching, Shakur Stevenson (27) solidified his claim as boxing’s premier technician with a 9th-round KO of overmatched Brit Josh Padley (29). The February 22 DAZN main event at Kingdom Arena saw Stevenson land a devastating 62.7% of his power punches in the final round, culminating in a three-punch combination that left Padley motionless at 2:48 of Round 9 during Riyadh Season’s “The Last Crescendo”.
Fight Recap
Round-by-Round Breakdown
- Rounds 1-3: Stevenson’s jab clinic (50% accuracy in R3) established range while Padley whiffed 83% of shots
- Round 5: Turning point - Stevenson landed 25/53 (47.2%) including 17 power shots to body
- Round 6: Peak precision - 53.7% power accuracy from Newark southpaw
- Round 9: Mercy stoppage after Stevenson landed 37/59 punches (62.7%), final right hook snapping Padley’s head violently sideways
Historic Statistical Dominance
| Metric | Stevenson (R1-9) | Padley (R1-9) |
|---|
| Total Landed | 188 | 66 |
| Power Punch Accuracy | 47.6% | 19.2% |
| Jabs Landed | 65 | 9 |
| Body Shots Landed | 71 | 22 |
Shakur Stevenson
✅ Technical Perfection:
- Progressive dismantling (accuracy improved every round from 23.5% to 62.7%)
- 71 body punches systematically broke Padley’s guard
- Defensive mastery (dodged 86% of Padley’s power shots)
❌ Minor Critique:
- Slow start (8 landed in R1) against limited opposition
- Overcommitted to body late when head openings appeared
Josh Padley
✅ Lone Positive:
- Showed durability through 8 rounds of punishment
❌ Systemic Failures:
- 0% jab accuracy in 4 separate rounds
- Failed to adjust predictable right-hand leads
- 15.8% total accuracy - worst by UK fighter in 2025
Key Takeaways
Career Implications
- Stevenson: Mandatory for undisputed lightweight title. Devin Haney rematch talks intensify.
- Padley: Likely exits Top 15 rankings. European title path now questionable.
Fan & Analyst Reactions
- #MatrixStevenson trends globally for defensive highlights
- UK media criticizes Padley’s “target practice” performance
- ESPN’s Tim Bradley: “This wasn’t a fight - it was an anatomy lesson”
Controversy Check
- Universal praise for referee’s stoppage timing
- No scorecard disputes pre-KO (Stevenson led 80-72 on all cards)
Official Result
Winner: Shakur Stevenson via 9th-round KO (2:48)
Post-Fight Reactions:
- Stevenson: “I painted that knockout round by round - body work opens everything.”
- Padley’s Trainer: “Shakur’s a different species. We’ll rebuild from this education.”
Conclusion
While lacking competitive drama, this Riyadh showcase cemented Stevenson as boxing’s most technically gifted active fighter. His calculated dismantling of a game but outclassed opponent displayed frightening fight IQ and punch selection. For Padley, this harsh exposure reveals fundamental limitations at world level. As Stevenson eyes historic unification bouts and Padley regroups, the lightweight division’s hierarchy gained crystalline clarity under Saudi Arabia’s bright lights.
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