Controversy Erupts as Josh Padley Secures Questionable Victory Over Reece Bellotti
In a fight that left fans and pundits scratching their heads, Josh Padley claimed a highly debated win against Reece Bellotti via a 10-round unanimous decision in his junior lightweight debut at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
But here’s where it gets controversial… Despite Bellotti’s relentless body attack and clear moments of dominance, the judges scored the bout overwhelmingly in Padley’s favor (99-92, 97-93 twice), leaving many to wonder if the home crowd influenced the verdict.
The Backstory: Padley (17-1, 5 KOs), a former electrician who recently quit his day job to focus on boxing, entered the ring as the favorite. His previous performances—including a gutsy short-notice loss to Shakur Stevenson—had built hype around his potential. Meanwhile, Bellotti (20-7, 15 KOs), a seasoned 34-year-old veteran, insisted he still had plenty left in the tank despite a recent stoppage loss to Ryan Garner. He dismissed Padley as an upstart and vowed to expose him.
The Fight Breakdown: Bellotti stuck to his word, relentlessly targeting Padley’s body from the opening bell. His left hooks to the midsection repeatedly left Padley wincing and clinging to survival. By the ninth round, Bellotti seemed on the verge of a stoppage, buckling Padley with yet another brutal body shot. But Padley, perhaps sensing the fight slipping away, rallied in the final round with sharp counters—though few believed it was enough to erase Bellotti’s earlier work.
The Aftermath: When the scores were announced, Bellotti’s face twisted in disbelief. He stormed from the ring, while Padley’s muted celebration hinted at his own surprise. This is the part most people miss… Even in victory, Padley’s performance raised questions about his durability at 130lbs, especially after visibly struggling with Bellotti’s body assault. Was this a case of hometown judging, or did Padley truly outbox Bellotti? Let’s debate in the comments!
Undercard Highlights:
- Hamza Uddin (6-0, 3 KOs) stole the show with a fifth-round TKO of Paul Roberts for the English flyweight title, dropping Roberts three times with vicious body shots.
- Ibraheem Sulaimaan (9-0, 4 KOs) showcased his elite jab in a shutout win over James Chereji, proving he’s ready for tougher competition.
- Conner Tudsbury (3-0, 2 KOs) returned from injury with a bizarre fourth-round stoppage of Khalid Graidia, who inexplicably retreated to his corner mid-fight.
- Dave Allen’s proteges Joe Howarth (14-1, 4 KOs) and Joe Hayden (20-0, 2 KOs) cruised to decision wins, though Hayden’s knockdown of Angelo Dragone stood out.
Mailbag Teaser: In today’s BoxingScene Mailbag, we break down the looming clash between Lamont Roach and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Will Cruz’s aggression overwhelm Roach’s technical savvy? Share your predictions!
Final Thought: Boxing’s subjective scoring strikes again. Did the judges get it right, or was Bellotti robbed? Sound off below—we want the unfiltered fan perspective!
