Oscar De La Hoya nonetheless believes Floyd ‘Child Austin’ Schofield Jr. ought to have waited to realize extra expertise earlier than difficult Shakur Stevenson for his WBC light-weight title.
Regardless of it being early on for the younger contender, Oscar feels that Schofield can win the struggle together with his jab, strain and combating tall. These are the keys to beating the Philly shell that Shakur Stevenson makes use of.
De L Hoya says he had a “plan” for the 22-year-old Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) to convey him alongside in his profession, however he and his dad, Floyd Sr., wished the struggle in opposition to Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs). ‘Child Austin’ will likely be combating Shakur on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 rematch on February twenty second in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The occasion will likely be proven dwell on DAZN.
“I used to be the primary one to say, ‘We have now to attend. We have now a plan for you, we have now a method for you,’ however the father was very adamant. The daddy, specifically, was the one which wished this struggle,” mentioned Oscar De La Hoya to Battle Hub TV about Floyd Schofield Jr. and his father Floyd Sr., insisting that they take the struggle in opposition to WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson on February twenty second.
“Child Austin is a throwback fighter. He’s really my favourite fighter in the present day in terms of combating the perfect, combating anyone, attending to the highest, and making historical past. That’s his mentality. I like that. However for my style, it was somewhat too bold, however they know precisely what they’re doing.
“The daddy [Schofield Sr] is aware of his son. We all know his skills contained in the ring. Is it too early? Possibly. Is it the appropriate time? Who is aware of. Solely Child Austin is aware of contained in the ring that night time. I believe it’s going to be a hell of a struggle. I believe it’s going to be a really, very entertaining struggle,” mentioned De Loya.
One will get the sense that the Schofields wished this struggle with Stevenson for the cash greater than anything. It’s a pleasant payday for them, and with the way in which Child Austin regarded in his final struggle in opposition to Rene Tellez Giron, he’ll finally get overwhelmed when he steps as much as combating prime 15 contenders.
So, it was a sensible factor for Schofield to go for the cash struggle whereas it was obtainable in opposition to Shakur reasonably than making an attempt to select up extra expertise and getting by somebody.
“Look, Shakur Stevenson is coming off of an harm, and Child Austin has to reap the benefits of that harm. I’m certain he’ll discover a means together with his new workforce, his new nook with Ronnie Shields and his father within the nook,” mentioned De La Hoya.
Schofield ought to strain Shakur and pressure him to brawl on this struggle as a result of his surgically repaired hand would possibly crumble in the course of the contest. Combating with one arm would put him at an enormous drawback in opposition to Child Austin.
“I believe Child Austin has an amazing likelihood of dethroning a pure boxer in Shakur Stevenson,” mentioned De La Hoya. “I like his possibilities as a result of Floyd doesn’t struggle head-first. He’s a quick puncher; he’s a powerful puncher. His reflexes are cat-like. He’s a fighter who fights tall.
“So, I believe if Floyd Schofield can struggle tall with plenty of strain, and utilizing that jab. The jab goes to be a key for Shakur’s model. For Floyd Mayweather’s model, for the shell model, the jab is the important thing. I like Floyd’s possibilities due to his footwork. I like his footwork. It’s most likely in the very best within the sport in the present day.
“So, the explosiveness, the pace, the IQ, I believe Floyd has an incredible shot. It’s not simple to crack, however it’s doable,” mentioned De La Hoya about Shakur’s protection.
“Each time I watch kinds like Shakur and Floyd’s, the jab is the important thing, and struggle tall. With a pleasant stance and combating tall as a result of plenty of fighters make the error of crouching down, which provides Shakur and Floyd Mayweather the benefit of touchdown their jab to their head simply as a result of they’re combating tall. Yeah, they’re very good boxers, however there are methods to beating that model,” mentioned De La Hoya.
Schofield goes to have to make use of fixed strain, quick footwork, and energy to defeat Shakur as a result of he’s going to be utilizing motion in opposition to him.
The hardest fights Stevenson has had lately have been in opposition to Edwin De Los Santos and Jeremiah Nakathilia, who pressured him and landed laborious pictures after they did get close to sufficient to hit him. The place they failed is with their incapacity to chop off the ring on Stevenson when he ran from them.
