Floyd Schofield Sr. says WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson has finished nothing within the professional sport to deserve the reward he has acquired for being a so-called “elite fighter.” He says Shakur turned professional after dropping to Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba within the 2016 Olympics and has been preventing “Cab drivers” since then.
Schofield Sr. feels that his son Child Austin is simply as deserving of preventing Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) for his WBC title than his final opponent, Artem Harutyunyan, who got here into their struggle earlier this 12 months on July sixth with a 12-1 file.
Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya indicated throughout his Clap Again Thursdays that he’s not pleased with Shakur’s promoter Eddie Hearn selecting to his fighter, 22-year-old prospect’ Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs), for his February twenty second struggle moderately than one of many contenders which were within the sport longer.
Elite Standing Questioned
Schofield is a four-year professional who has by no means fought an unbeaten fighter or a extremely ranked contender earlier than. The WBA has given him a excessive rating for beating obscure opposition.
“Everyone is bragging on Shakur, however who has Shakur fought that was A-level that made him elite?” mentioned Floyd Schofield Sr. to MillCity Boxing, questioning why WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson is rated so extremely by individuals.
“He obtained into the sport from dropping [to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez], and take a look at the standard of opponent within the [2016] Olympics that he misplaced to. Then he comes over right here, preventing cab drivers principally and working from them,” Schofield Sr. continued about Shakur.
“Everyone seems to be placing him on a degree that he doesn’t should be on. He obtained a title, and his opponent [Artem Harutyunyan] was 12-1. We’re 18-0, however the 12-1 man deserves a shot.”
The 34-year-old Harutyunyan is a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who got here near beating Frank Martin in his earlier struggle earlier than dealing with Shakur on July sixth. Harutyunyan’s newbie pedigree and professional expertise confirmed that he was extra ready to struggle Shakur than the 22-year-old Schofield, who didn’t struggle within the Olympics and nonetheless hasn’t fought a top-tier contender throughout his four-year profession.
Shakur’s “Undeserved” Hype
“You’re speaking Olympics. That is professional preventing. You’re letting losers from the Olympics and placing them on a pedestal as a result of they misplaced. I’m his [Schofield] promoter. We signed to ourselves. So, he’s listening to his promoter,” mentioned Floyd Sr, reacting to being informed that Schofield ought to take heed to his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, who’s telling him he shouldn’t take this struggle with Shakur as a result of he’s not prepared.
If Schofield does take this struggle with Shakur and lose, De La Hoya will take the warmth from followers for signing off on this match. Because the promoter, De La Hoya takes duty for matchmaking, and if he lets Schofield struggle Shakur, the backlash will probably be extreme later if he’s crushed. Schofield will get his payday out of the struggle, however his profession might be ruined.
“They underestimated us, and I assure we’re going to sleep Shakur,” mentioned Schofield Sr. “I assure you that’s going to come back true. Shakur talked his manner into that struggle, and so they’re underestimating us. Bear in mind, we had been homeless. Everybody underestimated us from the start, and now he’s preventing for a world title. Allow us to show that we’re nice. That’s all we ask.”
Schofield couldn’t even knock out his final opponent, Rene Tellez Giron, and he’s not a world-class fighter. That struggle confirmed Child Austin’s degree, which is principally the underside fringe degree. The excessive rating the World Boxing Affiliation has given Schofield means nothing. Sanctioning our bodies try this form of stuff on a regular basis, rating lesser fighters, and so they’ve finished it right here.
“He already despatched a message, and he mentioned, ‘If you wish to do it, I’ll,’” mentioned Schofield Sr. about De La Hoya sending a message to Child Austin, saying that he’ll enable him to struggle Shakur if he needs.
