Is Floyd Schofield ready? Hearn reduces responsibility in Shakur Stevenson title fight

Eddie Hearn says it’s not their “responsibility” if it’s the “right time” for upstart Floyd Schofield to challenge Shakur Stevenson for his WBC lightweight title on February 22. All Hearn knows is that he’s been “calling out” Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) “for ages,” and that makes him an option for his next fight.

(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

Schofield’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, grilled Hearn during his Clap back Thursdays this week, allowing him to try to set up a fight between his inexperienced “prospect” rather than one of the other contenders, such as Frank Martin or to choose Raymond Muratalla. .

De La Hoya didn’t mention Andy Cruz, but he should have been the #1 pick. He is one of Hearn’s fighters and an Olympic gold medalist.

Hear: They accepted the offer

“We made an offer to Golden Boy out of my mind, they accepted, but the fights had to be approved by His Excellency, by Riyadh Season and by Shakur,” Eddie Hearn told Boxing News about a fight between Shakur Stevenson and Floyd Schofield for February 22.

“It is not our responsibility as to who accepts a fight against Shakur. Our responsibility is Shakur Stevenson, and to make the most convincing case for him that can be made. (William) Zepeda was the struggle. We all agreed. Apparently he injured his hand in that fight (Tevin Farmer), and he doesn’t want to fight anymore.

“So, we’re leaving. It could be Muratalla. It could be Floyd Schofield. It could be all these guys calling out Shakur. It is not our responsibility to let you know if it is the right time for them. Schofield has been calling Shakur for ages with his father, with his team,” Hearn said.

Schofield and his father, Floyd Sr., have called out all the champions at 135, and it’s clear they’re just looking for a payday. ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield hasn’t fought even one world-class fighter during his four-year professional career, and he wasn’t a big amateur period, he turned pro. He was a decent amateur, but not Olympic material.

Golden Boy Promotions matched Schofield against journeyman-level fighters during his young career, helping him develop and build a track record. He is nowhere near ready to fight for a world title against either lightweight champion.

“If he’s up for the challenge, I like the fight. I think he’s a great, young fighter, and I don’t think it’s ever a good time to fight Shakur Stevenson because I think he’s pound-for-pound great. If you want to roll the dice on a true pound-for-pound great, this is for you. I don’t know the answer is whether Stevenson-Schofield is going to happen, but we’re ready for it,” says Hearn.

Shakur will be a heavy favorite

It’s understandable why Hearn is willing to make the Shakur-Schofield fight, as his fighter, Shakur, will be a heavy favorite to win. However, we don’t see the same energy from Hearn to throw Stevenson back into the deep waters with Edwin De Los Santos, Andy Cruz or Raymond Muratalla.

It’s easy for Hearn to be eager to make a fight between Shakur and 22-year-old prospect Schofield because his fighter is expected to school the rookie, who is just getting started, and he looked awful in his last fight. Why isn’t Hearn pushing to match Shakur against the Cuban, Andy Cruz, who he promotes?

2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz is one of Hearn’s Matchroom fighters, and at 29, he’s not getting any younger. Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) is globally superior to Schofield in talent, highly ranked and rotten on the vine, facing scrub. Why isn’t Hearn making a fight between Cruz and Shakur?