SHEFFIELD, England – Josh Padley pipped Aquib Fiaz to defend his European junior lightweight at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. The pair traded leather throughout the contest, with Fiaz, who was fancied by few, pushing Padley to the wire.
Padley showed a weakness to the body in his controversial win over Reece Bellotti last October, and Fiaz targeted it throughout. Both men were nervous as they awaited the decision after 12 nip-and-tuck rounds, but Padley, 19-1 (6 KOs), was awarded the win by split decision via scores of 115-112, 114-113, and 113-114.