Floyd Schofield Wins WBA Lightweight Title With Decision Over Lucas Bahdi

Floyd Schofield claimed the vacant WBA lightweight title on Saturday night, using speed and movement to beat Lucas Bahdi by unanimous decision over 12 rounds at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

The scorecards read 116-110, 119-108 and 115-111, all for Schofield. The 22-year-old from Austin, Texas improved to 20-0 with 13 knockouts. Bahdi, fighting out of Niagara Falls, Ontario, dropped to 20-1.

Schofield set the pace early with his jab and combination work, forcing Bahdi to chase. In the third round, a Schofield left hook pinned Bahdi against the ropes and referee Ben Rodriguez ruled a knockdown, per Boxing News 24.

Bahdi made the fight uncomfortable in spots. He hurt Schofield badly in the sixth round with heavy punches, and a right hand in the ninth sent Schofield's knee to the canvas, though no knockdown was called. In the eleventh, Rodriguez credited Bahdi with a knockdown, but replays showed their feet tangled during the exchange.

Schofield stayed disciplined down the stretch, moving and countering through the championship rounds to see out the fight. The disputed knockdown calls became an immediate talking point, but the wide scorecards suggest Schofield was winning comfortably regardless.

After the fight, DAZN's Chris Mannix pressed Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya on a unification with WBC lightweight champion William Zepeda, also a Golden Boy fighter. De La Hoya initially deflected, suggesting Abdullah Mason or other opponents. "Maybe it's not the fight to do next," De La Hoya said, per Boxing News 24. Mannix pushed, and De La Hoya eventually agreed: "We'll make that fight happen then." No date was offered.