Exclusive: Josh Padley wants to ink his name into history books by becoming world champion

Josh Padley, who hopes to take a giant step towards becoming a world champion by beating Reece Bellotti next month, has warned the former British and Commonwealth title-holder that the giant tattoo on his back proves he is willing to endure extreme pain in order to achieve his boxing ambitions.

A little over a year-and-a-half after facing Shakur Stevenson on a Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia, Padley is hoping to claim a career-best scalp when he meets Bellotti at Sheffield Arena. 

Despite being summoned at short notice to face the decorated American, Padley’s battling performance in the Middle East captured the imagination of fans across the globe and earned him a life-changing contract with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.

Although that display against Stevenson will guarantee Bellotti’s respect, Padley revealed the mammoth inking of a gladiator which is etched into his skin is an even better indication of the sacrifices he is willing to make to reach the pinnacle of his chosen profession.

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, Padley explained the very personal meaning behind the custom-designed montage which fuses images of a legendary fighter and an ancient Roman.

“The idea for the tattoo first came to me because I like the whole ‘old age/new age’ thing,” Padley said. “It was meant to be a gladiator from ancient times and then a modern day gladiator, which is what we are when we step in the ring." 

“When I first got into boxing as an amateur, one of the first fighters I loved was Mike Tyson. I probably watched him against Trevor Berbick about 60 or 70 times. I can tell you every single word the commentators and announcers were saying when they made their way into the ring."

“Because of the gladiatorial aspect, I got the Colosseum in there and then, when I turned professional, ‘Team Padley’ at the bottom of it. There won’t be any more. There’s no room and it caused me far too much pain!”

“It’s designed to represent who I am,” he added. “A modern day gladiator. That’s the game I’m in and having the tattoo done proves what boxing means to me and how I see it.”

Eyes of the Prize

Aged 29 and based in Doncaster, Padley’s assignment against Bellotti will be his 18th as a professional and second since locking horns with WBC lightweight king and former WBC and WBO super-featherweight supremo Stevenson. 

Expected to be dispatched within the opening couple of rounds, Padley, who secured his shot by beating Mark Chamberlain at Wembley, instead lasted nine before his corner eventually threw-in the towel. 

A victory over Marko Cvetanovic took his record to 16-1. Bellotti, from Watford, surrendered his British, Commonwealth, European and WBC international straps to Ryan Garner two months ago. 

Like Padley, who is now also competing at 130lbs, he knows that triumphing on the undercard of Dave Allen’s scrap against Arslanbek Makhmudov is likely to earn him another lucrative bout.

“I always wanted some sort of ink and that scratched the itch,” Padley said. “Well, it was a lot more than just a scratch to be fair. I remember the tattooist asking me if I really wanted something like this for my first ever tattoo."

“The shading on Tyson’s shorts was a really tough session but I got through it. That’s what we have to do, get through things. That’s what I do.”