Last night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing once again delivered an entertaining night of boxing on DAZN. The featured bout was an all-British clash for the European super featherweight title, in which Josh Padley (19-1) defeated Aqib Fiaz (14-2) by split decision: 115-112 and 114-113 for Padley, and 114-113 for Fiaz. The “electrician,” who became famous for accepting a short-notice fight against Shakur Stevenson, therefore remains the European champion.
Fight Report
The opening bell sounds and both fighters begin cautiously, studying each other. Padley looks calm and quick, while Fiaz appears focused on finding the right timing to counter the champion’s attacks.
The pace increases in the second round and the exchanges begin, with both men landing combinations to the body and head. Fiaz tries to be more aggressive, taking the center of the ring and pressuring Padley toward the ropes.
The pattern remains unchanged in the third round. It is a highly entertaining fight, with action flowing both ways, particularly at close range and to the body.
The fourth round sees more of the same: constant close-quarter combat. Fiaz applies relentless pressure, while Padley responds with excellent timing, although he appears to be feeling the effects of the challenger’s aggression.
As the rounds go by, Fiaz becomes increasingly relentless and aggressive. Padley clearly feels the pressure of this strategy, yet remains composed and ready to counter. Sheffield is witnessing a genuine battle, an intense contest that seems capable of swinging either way at any moment.
Both fighters throw countless uppercuts. It is one of those rough, hard-fought encounters, with neither man taking a backward step. The pace is excellent and both boxers display impressive conditioning.
Fiaz looks ruthless, both in his expression and in his approach. Padley remains alert and focused despite the problems posed by such a difficult opponent. The eighth round is perhaps the toughest of the fight, with explosive combinations exchanged by both men.
By the ninth round, Padley appears to be the fresher and more effective fighter. He lands with both hands, attacking accurately and consistently with jabs, hooks, and uppercuts, showing his full arsenal while staying defensively compact. Even so, Fiaz still manages to catch him on a few occasions.
In the tenth round, Fiaz tries to work the body with heavy punches, but his stamina seems to be fading and Padley cleverly takes advantage.
As expected, the final two rounds turn into an all-out war. Neither fighter holds anything back. Fiaz receives an official warning for leading excessively with his head. Once the action resumes, Padley continues to land experienced, well-timed shots to maintain his momentum.
The final minute is absolutely furious. Had the bell not sounded, it feels as though both fighters would have continued forever. It was a tremendous spectacle for the fans inside the arena.
This all-British derby was a genuine war and undoubtedly thrilled the crowd. Despite winning by split decision and facing numerous difficulties along the way, Padley successfully defended his title. Both fighters deserve tremendous credit for delivering an outstanding performance.