Floyd Schofield Sr. is confident of his son Floyd "Kid Austin" Schofield Jr.’s upcoming clash with WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson on February 22 in Riyadh. Speaking on social media, Schofield Sr. emphasized that his son isn’t merely showing up to collect a paycheck, but rather is determined to score an upset. "We’re not going out there to lose," he insisted. "We’re used to this, fighting with our back against the wall."
Skeptics point out that 22-year-old Schofield Jr. lacks a signature victory on his résumé and struggled in his last fight on November 2 against Rene Tellez Giron. Even Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya said Schofield needed more experience before taking on a champion like Stevenson. Nevertheless, Schofield Sr. maintains that their camp is focused on winning, not on collecting a payday, and that his son’s underdog status only fuels their motivation.
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Many observers believe that Stevenson chose Schofield - a relatively untested contender - over more proven opponents such as Andy Cruz, Edwin De Los Santos, or Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz. Schofield Sr. chalks this up to Stevenson seeking a safer route: "He doesn’t want to lose before he gets the Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis fight." However, Schofield Sr. promises a surprise, cautioning fans not to stake their savings on Stevenson.
From Schofield Sr.’s perspective, the pressure is a welcome challenge. He says they’ve faced adversity before and have always found a way through. Still, the biggest question remains whether Schofield Jr. has the tools to hang with Stevenson’s technical skill and ring IQ. With the WBC title on the line, Schofield Sr. believes an upset is in the making, while many fans and pundits see a near-impossible mountain for the young fighter to climb.
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