Padley took the fight on short notice when Stevenson's original opponent, Floyd Schofield, fell unwell. The British fighter put up a valiant effort but struggled to match the precision and tempo of the more experienced Stevenson. Still, Padley proved his credentials by lasting nine rounds against one of the top lightweights in the world.
After the fight, Padley shared his thoughts on Stevenson's punching power in an interview with AllThingzBoxing.
"I'd say like a 6 or a 7, he's not the heaviest of hitters but he made up for it in where he's got his punch selection and accuracy,"
Padley said in the interview.
The bout marked Padley's first career defeat. But his performance caught the eye of promoters, leading to a multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing. Fans will see Padley back in action on April 19 in Sheffield.
Stevenson's next fight remains unconfirmed. The champion has expressed his desire to unify the world lightweight titles. Many fans and pundits are calling for a showdown between Stevenson and WBA lightweight champion Gervonta 'Tank' Davis. Davis recently fought to a split decision draw against Lamont Roach Jr. A potential Stevenson-Davis clash could happen in 2025.