Floyd Schofield withdrew from his fight with Dazn PPV with a lightweight WBC Shakur Stevenson champion on Saturday evening in Riyadh. Schofield (18-0, 12 KO) is diseased, and Stevenson’s syndrome is quickly looking for a replacement.
I was afraid of it. When Shakur chose Schofield based on his ability to fall on trash on social media, the experience factor was overlooked. Floyd was never on a vast stage and it was stupid to put an unverified warrior on the lightweight of the headlights in a high pressure situation when he never fought at this level.
Will come at the last minute
Stevenson (22-0, 10 KO) will remain on the card, but two substitute opponents are considered satisfactory. According to RingThese are two:
Of these two, Padley has a better CV. He recently defeated Marek Chamberlain with a unanimous decision on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London.
If Shakur and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, choose one of these two fighters as a deputy, Turks Alalshikh must put the fight in the initial part of the event away from the main card. Placing it on YouTube would be a nice gesture, because boxing fans will not be enraged, seeing Shakur fighting the second level warrior who does not have a company in the ring with him. Must Brave this fight so deep on the undercard that nobody sees it – no About sight, from the mind.
Shakur did not fight the great opposition throughout his professional career, especially since moving to the lightweight division in 2023. That is why it is arduous to take him seriously when he says he deserves to fight Gervont Davis and is one of the best warriors in sport. The tender CV Shakura does not carry it.
Shakur’s choice, our problem
This is what you get when you are an opponent for the wrong reasons. Shakur admitted that he chose Floyd Schofield only because of his ability to speak garbage. It was purely superficial reasons. He never beat anyone at the highest level to evaluate the title.
It was a choice of Stevenson. He could choose many options, such as one of those killers: Andy Cruz, Ernesto Mercado, Raymond Muratalla and Edwin de Los Santos. Schofield wanted and this is happening. That is why it is arduous to like Shakur. He boasts himself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but then he never fights with a good one. He is wrong with this sport. If you are Turks Alaashikh, it would be a good idea to leave Shakur from his future cards and focus on risk.
“I am ready to capture this moment. I am focused. I put in a great training and this is my time – said Shakur Stevenson Boxing boxing On today’s great newcomers to Riyadh for his fight on Saturday evening.
“I am ready to show the world that I am a superstar. I think I am one of the best warriors in boxing sport. The world will know on February 22, “Stevenson said, boasting of himself.
“I want to fight you. We can fight next,” Broner said on social. “I know you’re getting nice fights, but you ain’t going to get as much money as you will fighting me. You’re about that money, right? Fight me. I’ll take your belt. Do he got a belt? Whatever he got, I’ll take it.”
Adrien also contrasted Ryan’s career with his own, pointing to his knockout loss and accusing him of quitting while insisting he has never been stopped.
“You got knocked out. You got stopped. I ain’t never got stopped, not ever against no matter who I fought,” Broner said. “You done quit.”
The 36-year-old then shifted from boxing to their personal relationship, saying Ryan had leaned on him during difficult times but failed to return the favor.
“When you were going through your s***, you was calling me, and I was answering every time,” Broner said. “So, don’t be on no fake s*** now.”
He closed by claiming Garcia had the resources to help him but chose not to.
“You call your people, and my people are ready. I ain’t with nobody. I’m doing this from the ground up,” Broner said. “If you felt that way about me, you would have came and picked me up. You had the money, right? You didn’t come and pick me up.”
Broner has not fought since his unanimous decision win over Blair Cobbs in June 2025 and has repeatedly called for high-profile opponents as he attempts to revive his career. Whether Garcia has any interest in the matchup remains to be seen, but Broner made it clear he’s looking for a title shot rather than a tune-up.
Adrien Broner just went OFF on Ryan Garcia and says he wants to fight him next 🗣️
“You got knocked out… I want to fight you next… I’ll take yo belt.
When you was going through your sh*t, you was calling me, and I was answering everytime.” pic.twitter.com/dE4EJokKME
— Source of Boxing (@Sourceofboxing) July 13, 2026
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, recognized for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reporting focuses on major bouts, divisional developments, and the sport’s most discussed storylines.
The Matchroom Boxing card streams live on DAZN this Saturday, July 18, from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. In the co-feature, lightweight contender Andy Cruz will face late replacement Abraham Montoya (24-7-1, 14 KOs)) after Albert Bell withdrew to accept a world title shot against WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason.
Cruz, who many fans believed did enough to defeat IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla before dropping a disputed 12-round majority decision last January, had been scheduled to meet Bell in what was widely viewed as a more compelling matchup. Bell’s withdrawal forced Matchroom to find a replacement on short notice, with Montoya getting the opportunity.
Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) enters the fight looking to continue his rise toward a world title shot while beginning his partnership with McGirt, one of boxing’s most accomplished trainers. Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs) is an experienced veteran who has shared the ring with several respected contenders and will look to derail Pacheco’s momentum.
Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, remains one of boxing’s most highly regarded lightweight contenders despite the controversial loss to Muratalla. A victory over Bell would have strengthened his case for another title opportunity, but Bell’s decision to pursue a championship fight changed those plans.
The opponent switch drew criticism from some fans on social media, with many describing the revised matchup as a mismatch and expressing disappointment that Cruz would no longer face Bell. Others questioned the overall strength of the doubleheader.
However, the change was not Cruz’s doing. Bell withdrew after landing a title shot against Mason, leaving Matchroom to secure an available replacement rather than remove Cruz from the card. While Montoya may not generate the same interest as Bell, Cruz can still make a statement with an impressive performance and move himself closer to another lightweight title opportunity.
Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are regarded as two of the best heavyweights in recent history, and now a former world heavyweight champion who fought them both is planning a shock return to the sport at the age of 53.
Lewis and Holyfield ruled the heavyweight division at various stages throughout the 1990s, which led to the duo famously colliding on two occasions in 1999.
The first bout ended in a controversial split decision draw, before Lewis left no doubt in the second meeting as he won by unanimous decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion.
Just under 18 months later, Lewis suffered an upset defeat, as he was knocked out inside five rounds by Hasim Rahman, and it is Rahman who is now planning on returning to the sport at the age of 53, as he looks to compete for the first time since June 2014.
After his victory over Lewis, Rahman lost by fourth round knockout in their immediate rematch, before he then headed straight into a bout with Holyfield, suffering a technical decision loss after eight rounds due to an eye injury after an accidental head clash.
Further defeats followed, with his record currently standing at 50 wins from 62 fights, but he has told Sean Zittel about his current success in the gym.
“I feel like in every aspect of my life, I feel like a 25-year-old. I go in the gym and I’ll work everybody in the gym, every single person.”
Rahman is scheduled to compete at the ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York on Tuesday 18 August, with an opponent yet to be announced.