The vacant WBA Lightweight championship is on the line Saturday night in Chicago, but let’s be real, all eyes are on Floyd Schofield after a shaky weigh-in and a staggering 16-month layoff. This isn’t just a title fight, it feels like Schofield is battling the clock and his own recent history as much as Lucas Bahdi.
Schofield’s Long Road Back to the Ring Has Got Everyone Talking
Austin’s own Floyd Schofield rolls into this title bout with a pristine 19-0 record and 13 KOs. You remember that stunning first-round knockout over Tevin Farmer a year ago, right? Schofield did what William Zepeda couldn’t in two fights against Farmer. That felt like his moment, a true breakout. But then, nothing. He got sick before a huge scheduled fight against Shakur Stevenson in Riyadh and he’s been dealing with personal stuff alongside his dad and trainer, Floyd Senior. It’s been a whopping 16 months since he stepped into the ring. And if that wasn’t enough to make you wonder, he stumbled on the scales this morning, initially hitting 135.6 pounds. He barely made the 135-pound limit after dropping that extra half pound. You gotta ask, did that long layoff mess with his ability to make weight? It’s a huge question mark hanging over this fight.
“Prince” Lucas Bahdi Is Riding a Tidal Wave of Momentum
On the other side of the ring is Lucas “Prince” Bahdi from Niagara Falls, Ontario, bringing his own undefeated 20-0 record with 15 KOs. This guy got the entire boxing world’s attention with the 2024 Knockout of the Year against Ashton Sylve. Think about it: he was down nine rounds and then BAM! One punch, lights out. That’s the kind of power that changes everything in a fight. Since then, Bahdi’s won three more fights, all by decision against undefeated guys. He’s coming in hot, making weight at a solid 134 pounds, and his Canadian fans have traveled all the way to Chicago to back him. He spent a lot of his early career fighting down in Mexico, grinding for this moment. “I’m very proud to be Canadian. I wear that flag on my back when I enter the ring. Now here we are. We’re fighting for the world title, and I’m ready,” Bahdi said. He’s ready, alright. Schofield’s crew might be there, but Bahdi’s got a whole nation behind him right now.
The Stakes Are Massive, The City Is Buzzing
This isn’t just any fight night. This is the first major boxing card in Chicago since 2019, a city that last saw championship boxing with legends like Dmitry Bivol and Oleksandr Usyk (in his heavyweight debut!) headlining. Now, Schofield and Bahdi are battling for the WBA World Lightweight title, a belt that was vacated by none other than Gervonta Davis. That’s serious legacy on the line. The card also features unified flyweight champ Ricardo Sandoval making his first title defense and U.S. Olympian Jahmal Harvey stepping up for his first eight-round lightweight fight. All the action kicks off worldwide on DAZN Boxing, with prelims at 1 p.m. PT and the main card rolling at 5 p.m. PT. Both camps have been respectful, but there was already some scrapping over the IBF rehydration clause limits for Saturday morning’s weigh-in. These guys know a win changes their lives. It’s going to be electric.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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