Boxing
Floyd Schofield Sr. says Shakur Stevenson will never fight Kid Austin
“Shakur would never fight Kid, just like Tank would never fight Kid,” Schofield Sr. told MillCity Boxing.
Schofield Sr. insisted his criticism was not personal towards Shakur and argued that top fighters were simply chasing bigger paydays in the bigger leagues rather than taking hazardous fights for less money at lightweight.
“They were getting bigger fights at 140 pounds for 20, 15 million,” Schofield Sr. said. “Why come in here where there’s a risk of getting knocked out for much less money?”
The most essential part of Schofield Sr.’s argument revolved around Shakur’s lack of knockout power and whether he would be able to keep his aggressive punches away for 12 rounds.
“Shakur only had 11 knockouts,” Schofield Sr. said. “There is no way he would fight someone like Kid and be able to last 12 rounds.”
Schofield senior believes his son’s combination of speed, movement and power would pose major stylistic problems for Stevenson.
“How could he sustain a powerful puncher like Kid that gave him movement and speed?” Schofield Sr. said. “That would be the wrong style for Shakur.”
Schofield senior also criticized what he sees as current boxing matchmaking, arguing that too many fighters avoid tough opponents to protect undefeated records and maximize earnings.
“There is no way you can build a legacy by skating horrendously, picking players,” Schofield Sr. said.
Stevenson has recently been linked to possible future fights against Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis as Schofield continues to establish himself in the lightweight division.
Shakur also has a built-in defense against criticism that he never fought Schofield, as the two fighters were already scheduled to fight on February 22, 2025, before Schofield was pulled from the fight during fight week in Riyad, around February 18-19.
Stevenson later questioned whether Schofield was fully prepared for the fight, while Schofield’s team maintained that the withdrawal was related to medical issues and the committee’s decision to remove him from the card.
Derek Chisora accused Dana White of operating like a “slave owner,” but Conor Benn’s lucrative move to Zuffa Boxing offers a substantial counterpoint to the heavyweight’s attack.
Chisora’s complaint centered on White turning fighters away from his platform. That hardly explains the comparison, especially with Benn reportedly collecting $15 million for his first Zuffa appearance alone.
“Dana White is not my cup of tea, to be honest with you,” Chisora said in an interview with Fight Hub TV following the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua press conference. “Because the way he operates is just, he operates like a slave owner, man. You know, fighters want to fight on his platform. He tells them, ‘You’re not good enough for me, so go away.’ What is a fighter going to do? What is he going to do after that? That’s not right.”
Benn’s experience makes that accusation difficult to defend. His reported $15 million purse for facing Regis Prograis was followed by a world-title opportunity against Ryan Garcia. White’s platform has delivered both substantial money and a major fight for the British welterweight.
One boxer’s earnings cannot answer every question about a promoter’s treatment of fighters. But Chisora supplied no named example to support his accusation. Benn gives readers something concrete to weigh against it.
Chisora also argued that a fighter who performs poorly one night can improve the next time. Fair enough. Promoters still have to decide whom to sign, how many places they can offer, and which fights they want to stage. Wanting a contract does not create an entitlement to one.
His example concerns access to White’s platform, rather than restrictions imposed on someone already fighting there. Those are different issues, and Chisora never explained how rejection justified his language.
Asked about the dispute between Eddie Hearn and White, Chisora made his personal dislike clear. What he failed to provide was an argument strong enough to carry such a loaded accusation.
Filip Hrgovic questions how Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have earned a fight for the WBA “Super” heavyweight title, arguing that attaching the belt to their matchup damages boxing’s credibility.
The fight already has two recognizable names and a rivalry that can sell without a championship. Adding a world title invites a different question: what have either man’s recent performances done to justify that reward?
“They are both big superstars, but how are they fighting for a title?” Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground when asked about the proposed WBA title stakes. “Where did that come from? … These kinds of decisions, it’s killing the sport. It’s not good for the sport. And because of these funny decisions, people don’t consider boxing a serious sport.”
Fury and Joshua already have the recognition to sell their fight. Their rivalry is the attraction. Adding the WBA’s highest heavyweight title gives the event a sporting endorsement that requires more explanation than either man’s name can provide.
Gassiev’s position makes that harder to justify. With him holding the regular championship, the proposed title stakes would allow Fury and Joshua to fight for superior recognition within the same organization without going through its existing titleholder. What, then, is Gassiev’s belt supposed to mean?
That is the weakness of the WBA’s multiple-title structure. A fighter can hold its championship and still watch a more commercially attractive pairing receive the bigger prize. The distinction becomes difficult to defend if the organization cannot explain the sporting criteria behind it.
There is also a financial question worth asking. Sanctioning a major event can benefit the organization collecting the fees. That makes a clear explanation of eligibility especially necessary: what qualifies Fury and Joshua for this opportunity, and how does Gassiev fit into the decision?
Hrgovic has his own interests. He wants recognition as the division’s best champion and would benefit from undermining rival claims. But his objection still demands an answer.
Fans can enjoy Fury-Joshua as a major occasion without treating it as the fight that establishes heavyweight supremacy. The WBA risks blurring that distinction by attaching its highest title to a matchup whose appeal is already secure.
The rivalry gives the promotion something valuable to sell. The championship should represent something the fighters have earned.
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