SHEFFIELD FIGHT WEEK PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS JOSH PADLEY AND AQIB FIAZ FACE OFF
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Jun 2026
Rivals Josh Padley and Aqib Fiaz faced-off today in Sheffield ahead of their EBU European Super Featherweight Championship clash at the Utilita Arena – live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.
Champion Padley insisted he will not be beaten in front of his Yorkshire faithful this weekend as Fiaz warned he will ‘spark out’ the former electrician.
Elsewhere on the card, undefeated prospect Ibraheem Sulaimaan (10-0, 5 KOs) challenge Ibrahim Nadim (16-1, 2 KOs) for the English Super Featherweight Title.
Teenage Heavyweight sensation – and proud York native – Leo Atang (6-0, 5 KOs) is out to extend his scintillating start to life in the professional ranks hen he faces France’s Fouad Shaili (5-4-2, 3 KOs).
Middleweights Aaron Bowen (7-1, 5 KOs) and Troy Coleman (15-4-1, 7 KOs) collide earlier in the evening, with rising stars Adam Maca (5-0, 5 KOs) and Connor Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) both out to stretch their respective winning records.
Plus, emerging Steel City Gym duo Chris Mulunda (2-0) and Ed Hardy (6-0, 2 KOs) are in action in the prelims.
Here’s everything that was said in the Press Conference – plus, you can watch it back in full in the video player below:
Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO:
“That was always key [keeping the show on following Dalton Smith and Galal Yafai injuries]. We haven’t had the best luck, let’s be honest, over the past few months with Callum Smith as well. You have to say a big thank you to DAZN too. As much as we make a big push, without a broadcast like DAZN this wouldn’t be possible, so thank you to them. The key is to always ensure that the fighters get their opportunity. The big, big names we know about in the sport. I’m not saying it’s easier for them to take, but financially it may be easier. A lot of fighters who work eight, ten, twelve weeks in camps for these moments. So for us, it’s always about making sure that the show goes ahead to give everyone their opportunities. There’s 16 fighters on this card. We did it in Liverpool two months before and we’ll continue to do that.”
Josh Padley
“It’s all about opportunities in this game. Stay ready and when the opportunities come, roll the dice and take the risk. I’ve built a career from that, and this time an opportunity has come and I’m now the headliner – thanks for Matchroom and DAZN for keeping the show on. It’s another experience that I’m more than willing to step up to the plate for. I need to keep building. I’ve always said that I’d love to get back to a World Title opportunity, given a full training camp and given a bit more than four days’ notice. The way that I do that is to keep winning and keep progressing. We’ve picked up three titles with Matchroom now; two international titles and a European Title. Now it’s time to defend that title – the first time doing that as a professional. I’m looking forward to that experience."
Aqib Fiaz
“Obviously I’ve had a bit of inactivity but that’s through no fault of our own. I was scheduled to fight in January and then the show was cancelled, and then through Ramadan I was unable to do the new date. Some things are just written I believe. I feel like this fight was written. This opportunity was there, and it’s ended up as the main event. These things are meant to be. I feel like Saturday night for me is meant to be and I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Like I said earlier to you Jamie, in the gym no stone has been left unturned. I’ve done everything in my power and on Saturday I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”
Ibrahim Nadim:
“It’s great to be back. Like you said, I started my career at Matchroom. It’s good to be having my first title defence with you also. It was great to be under Ricky’s [Hatton] guidance. He had a wealth of knowledge and I take that with me every time I step into the ring. He’s [Ibraheem Sulaimaan] a good fighter. He’s also had a good amateur career but I feel as a pro in my last four fights, I’ve fought for three titles and I’ve had more experience in the ten-rounders. The ten-round distance, the work rate and I can test his gas tank a bit more.”
Ibraheem Sulaimaan:
“Obviously when you’re staying at home, you’re too much in your comfort zone. So I thought, ‘move out and lock in’. I’ve become a different monster, here I am. I’m ready to show it all on Saturday night. Proper schedule and a proper routine. I have more of a locked in mindset. He’s a good fighter, even as an amateur he’s won a few national titles. We won our first schoolboy titles together as well. There’s our history, and here we are now fighting for the English Title on Saturday night.
“All of my ten fights I’ve fought against good opposition. We’ve had a good step up every time. I won the Midlands Title in my last fight and now we’re moving up to the English Title. It’s going to be a proper domestic fight. He’s been good, he’s been tested and proven, and here I am. I’m going to win the title on Saturday night. I could win any way possible, any way necessary. If he wants to bring, I’m there, and if he wants box I’m going to outbox him.”
Leo Atang:
“Obviously it’s nice to have the 100% KO record and all that, but eventually I’m sure it’s going to go. The fact that it’s happened early in my career, it’s a weight off your shoulders really. There’s no pressure now. Obviously we want the stoppages and stuff but we can go in there more relaxed, just finding them instead of forcing them. Without looking too far ahead, these are the things I’ve dreamed of as a kid, wanting to be on these big shows and winning World Titles – but it all starts here. I try not to get carried away too much. With every step, we’ll get there.”
Aaron Bowen:
“I was straight back in the gym, you know. It’s not been too tough. I thought I won on the night. I know where I went wrong. I’ve just got to be better. I’m not reinventing the wheel. I’m not going to be a whole new fighter. I’m just going to be better, tighten up on areas where I needed to. It’s been a great camp, originally on May 2nd, got pushed back to this, but it’s just done me the world of good – more prep and more focus. It’s going to be a good fight and a good fight to get back to winning ways.
“I thought I’d go in and just knock Tom Cowling out. The whole fight I was just thinking, ‘I’m going to get you in a minute’. It cost me a win. I just need to be a bit tighter. Troy is experienced, has been there and boxed some good lads and got some good wins as well. I’ve got to be better, but I will be. I know my amateur pedigree, that’s going to carry me a long way, but I’m still going to bring it. I’m not looking to box on the backfoot. I’m still looking for the knockout every fight, but just tighten up.”
Troy Coleman:
“Everyone knows what Aaron brings. He’s a tough guy and likes to fight. I know that about Aaron, we’ve shared plenty of rounds of sparring before. They’ve been good rounds, I can’t really take too much away from them. Since the Jimmy Sains fight, I was back in the gym as well after two weeks – also trying to put my wrongs right. I’m learning on the job still. It’ll be my 21st fight, I’ve had a tough apprenticeship. I’ve took hard fights and I’ve won hard fights, lost hard fights. I’ve wanted this fight, I think I said to him on the running track, for around two years. I said he’s my ticket to Saudi, it’s not quite Saudi but it’s Sheffield. It’ll have to do, but either way I’m ready for it.”
Adam Maca:
“I think for where I want to be in the sport, I want to be a World Champion. That’s where I want to be, I want to be at the top. That’s the attitude you have to have heading into the ring. You want to know that you’d done everything right outside of it. I had four four-rounders at the start which ain’t too different to amateur boxing – you’re in a rush. Like Frank said, I want to be entertaining people. I also want to be getting people out of there. When it was getting to round three, then I’m just having to rush – throw a million punches at them. Now I’ve got the six rounds, like my last fight, I went into round three knowing I had three more to go. I just stayed relaxed and I got him out of there in a much better way for the highlight reel. He’s not been stopped in 44 fights, he’s never been stopped in England, but I’m going to do a job on him and get him out of there.”
Connor Mitchell:
“I didn’t watch it back that night. I watched it back the next day. It was a much more mature performance. The first one I didn’t really learn too much from, obviously I got the stoppage in the second round. I weren’t happy with the four rounds because I want to get stoppages, but I was happy with my performance. I want to get a stoppage this weekend to be honest, that’s the main thing. I just want to say maturity. I’m learning in the gym every day and progressing. I’m turning into more of a pro. He’s a tough opponent, I just want to keep having these little step ups. I don’t want to be knocking people out in the first or second round because I want to learn also. Another little step up and I’m ready to put on another performance – I’m ready to go.”
Ed Hardy:
“We’ll have to see what the parking is like in Sheffield near the arena! I think it could be a pretty heavy parking ticket in the tractor. I’m just enjoying the whole process of being in the pros. Everything, taking it all in, from the press conferences, weigh-ins and the fight nights. I’m just enjoying it all and learning each fight. I want to keep building it up. We want a good explosive performance and to make a statement to show everyone we’re here and we’re staying as well.”
Chris Mulunda:
“First and foremost, thank you to my team. Thank you to Sunny Edwards. Thank you to the whole team at Matchroom for still keeping the show on. Like you said with Dalton, the thing I learn from him the most is his mindset. He lives such a professional life, day in and day out. He’s gone on to achieve huge things, winning the WBC World Title. Seeing someone like that makes me strive to be the best version of myself.
“This is a big opportunity for me. It’s a chance for people to tune in and see what I’m about. I’m going to be first on but I bring a lot of skill, a lot of smoothness and slickness in the ring. Stay tuned.”
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