SAN ANTONIO – The team surrounding Floyd ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield has begun the preparation for a title run.
“This sh!t is getting real,” Cameron Davies, Schofield’s local promoter, told BoxingScene.com after his latest win. “Every fight is going to be a top opponent from now on. Someone who’s been a world champion and who has the potential to be a world champion one day.”
The determination was already made prior to Schofield’s ten-round shutout of Haskell Lydell Rhodes atop this past Saturday’s DAZN show from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The 20-year-old from nearby Austin was thrust into the main event after Vergil Ortiz was hospitalized and forced to withdraw from his challenge of WBA ‘Regular’ welterweight titlist Eimantas Stanionis.
Schofield’s fight versus Rhodes (28-5-1, 13KOs) was intended as the co-feature and the latest step in his development. The advancement to the main event didn’t necessarily change that mindset, although he proved that he’s ready for the next level.
Bernard Hopkins had thoughts on Schofield’s immediate future.
The Hall of Fame former two-division champ is tasked with developing talent at Golden Boy Promotions, who co-promotes Schofield (15-0, 11KOs) along with Davies Entertainment. One fight he likes for the young gun is former IBF junior lightweight titlist Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz (33-4-1, 15KOs), who soundly defeated Jerry Perez in the evening’s co-feature.
“I say JoJo Diaz tomorrow, then we move on to the next fight,” Hopkins stated, with Diaz on site during the post-fight press conference. “It’s just my opinion so that’s why I shot first. Because of JoJo Diaz’s performance (Saturday night), why chase the other guy?
“We want someone we got in-house, who’s not a lazy dog. He’s a live dog, someone that Kid Austin can’t f—–’ sleep on. We can make that fight.”
It’s an ambitious next step but not likely to happen that soon. Boxing Scene confirmed that plans are in place for Schofield to headline a September 7 Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN show in San Antonio, though dependent on how soon he heals from a ninth-round cut on his left cheek which required stitches. A clash with Diaz could very well happen before year’s end, though in the manner of making it more than a fight.
“Let’s make this a little contender series,” suggested Davies. “JoJo is talking about coming to San Antonio, getting committed and training. JoJo Diaz versus Floyd Schofield. We can put on a show that the entire city and the boxing world wants to see. We’ll follow the entire journey with cameras. I got the production company in place to make it happen.
“We can turn it into something bigger than just boxing. It’s a lifestyle. People get to see what you got to go through.”
Schofield actually called out fellow young rising lightweight Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6KOs) after his win on Saturday. It was more in response to Davis name dropping Schofield earlier this year, as the young Texan is perfectly fine with the best laid plan by his all-star team.
“I’m just here to do what they want me to do,” Schofield insisted. “Bernard wants me to fight JoJo, I’ll fight JoJo. Then we can go get Keyshawn. I can’t get Keyshawn, then I’ll go and get someone else. It’s all about what my team and Golden Boy want and the position they put me in. I’m happy either way because I’m gonna show out.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox