Floyd Schofield Sr. is adamant that his son, Floyd Schofield Jr., will not be defeated by WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson when the two meet in the ring on February 22 in Riyadh. Despite skeptics questioning the young fighter’s readiness for such a high-profile match, Schofield Sr. is confident that his son is ready to defy the odds.
Schofield Jr. (18-0, 12 KOs), who has yet to face a top-tier opponent, has received criticism from fans who believe the fight is more about money than a legitimate shot at victory. Some have speculated that the Schofields’ push for the fight, even over the objections of promoter Oscar De La Hoya, indicates that they’re not serious contenders but rather looking for a payday. Schofield Jr. has no major wins on his resume, leaving some fans to question whether he can truly compete with Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), many consider him one of the best in the lightweight division.
“We’re not going out there to lose. Y’all bugging,” Schofield Sr. said on social media. “We’ve been against the odds before, and we’ve always come out on top. We’re breaking generational curses. We’ve got something to fight for, and we’re going out there to bang. We thank Shakur for the opportunity, but make no mistake, we’re coming to win.”
Schofield Sr. emphasized their belief in themselves, adding that they’re used to fighting under pressure and aren’t intimidated by the challenge ahead. “We’re going to continue to be humble, but we’re not going to lose mentally,” he said.
One point of interest surrounding the fight is why Stevenson, a fighter with a clear path to bigger matchups, selected Schofield Jr. as his opponent instead of more seasoned contenders such as Andy Cruz, Edwin De Los Santos, or Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. Schofield Sr. believes that Stevenson’s choice reflects his desire to avoid facing a more dangerous challenger before pursuing a potential fight with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
“Shakur knows who we are. He’s trying to avoid a loss before a big fight,” Schofield Sr. claimed. “But we love being the underdog. We’re going out to win, and y’all will see it.”
Despite his confidence, Schofield Jr.’s lack of experience at the elite level has led some to doubt whether he has a real chance against Stevenson. Schofield Jr. struggled in his last bout against Rene Tellez Giron, and many experts believe his only shot at victory is through a knockout, given Stevenson’s well-rounded skill set and consistency.
As the fight approaches, Schofield Sr. continues to promote the matchup, as Stevenson and Schofield Jr. remain relatively quiet in the lead-up to the event. “Don’t lose your money betting on Shakur,” Schofield Sr. warned. “Keep sleeping on us, and you’ll wake up with a nightmare.”
Schofield Jr. will look to make a statement and prove his critics wrong in the highly anticipated clash for the WBC lightweight title.
Leave a Reply