Former lightweight world title challenger
Josh Padley will make his junior lightweight debut against recently-defeated former British and Commonwealth divisional champion
Reece Bellotti.
That is the eye-catching headline from Matchroom's announcement this afternoon, unveiling more undercard information to fill out the
Dave Allen-Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard on October 11.
Concerns have been raised about the timing of Bellotti's return, which will come just two-and-a-half months removed from a
gruelling 12-round main event matchup against an in-form Ryan Garner on July 26.
Garner (18-0, 9 KOs) finished with a flourish and scored a stoppage over the Watford man, 34, to inflict his sixth career loss - and first since former WBA featherweight champion
Raymond Ford needed three rounds to do the same, four years ago this month.
Afterwards, Bellotti joked with the media that he'd be paid significantly less and lose opportunities with Eddie Hearn after being the latest to come unstuck against a Frank Warren-backed Queensberry fighter, though many critics were uncomfortable with the news he'd be back so soon.
Padley responded to one in particular on X, saying: "Sometimes, best way to get over something is to get right back to it. I was back in the ring 8 weeks after taking my beating from Shakur, Reece got 10. He'll be ready to go, I'm sure."
Padley was thrust into the Saudi spotlight on short-notice and exceeded expectations during a courageous display against reigning WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) on February 22, earning himself a Matchroom contract despite a
ninth-round stoppage defeat.
The Yorkshireman (16-1, 5 KOs) was given a hero's reception on his in-ring return two months later, scoring a fifth-round stoppage win over Marko Cvetanovic on the
Dalton Smith-Mathieu Germain undercard before admitting he was open to moving down in weight - provided his team deemed he could do so healthily. Now, he gets an opportune chance.
Elsewhere, Manchester light-heavyweight Conner Tudsbury (2-0, 1 KO) returns in his third six-round contest. After a pair of eight-round decision wins in Nottingham and his native Birmingham, junior lightweight Ibraheem Sulaimaan (8-0, 4 KOs) has another assignment as he gradually steps towards title level while Walsall flyweight Hamza Uddin (5-0, 2 KOs) is also back on the schedule.
Unbeaten talent Junaid Bostan's wish for a home game was granted, as he'll rematch Bilal Fawaz for the vacant English junior middleweight title after their
contentious 10-round split draw on January 31.