Baby boom as Josh Padley targets European belt
Timing is everything in boxing.
So when Leilani Storm Padley made her entrance into the world, it was a wonderful if slightly awkwardly timed arrival.
She was born on the first day of her dad Josh's eight-week camp in the run-up to Saturday's vacant European super featherweight title contest.
Sleep-deprived nights aren't what you want when you are an athlete on the cusp of a huge international challenge.
But Josh still wears the smile of a delighted first-time dad, although two nights of peace and quiet in a pre-fight Newcastle hotel this week won't do him any harm.
The Armthorpe 30-year-old says: "My camp has been different as our baby was due on the official first day of the start of our preparations.
"It has been tough, and although my fiancée Sylvana sees to her in the night, babies cry!
"But it's great, and all the hard work is done. I am excited about Newcastle (Arena) on Saturday. It is a massive opportunity."
Padley, 17-1-0, has only one dent in his record, and that came 12 months ago as a late replacement to fight WBC World Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
Now he is eager to use the European title to take a step back up the ladder to that elite level.
To do that, he has to overcome France-based Jaouad Belmehdi 23-2-3.
"My one aim is victory - anyway I need to do it," he says.
"A win will give me a higher ranking in all the governing bodies and take me to the next stage.
"This will take one step closer. My goal is get back to world title level, only this time with proper preparation (Josh was working on electrics in the roof space of a house in Shiregreen when he got the call to rake on Stevenson.)
"Belmehdi is tough, and this is his big chance, too. He wants it as much as I do. But it will come down to the fact that I have the better skill set."
A European belt at just 130 pounds would be quite an achievement for the Matchroom asset.
His only other bout at super feather came in October at Sheffield Arena in a ten-round bout for the WBA International against Reece Bellotti.
He won by unanimous decision over 10 rounds.
Josh says he was ten pounds heavier when he beat Mark Chamberlain at Wembley Stadium on the Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua card in September 2024.
"Weight cutting is never an easy transition, but I am lucky to have a team around me now, with Jason Cunningham, trainer, nutritionist Charlie Mitten and Strength and Conditioning coach Joe Mulhern from Danum CrossFit."