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Last-Minute Drama: Floyd Schofield Pulled from Shakur Stevenson Clash, Organizers Scramble for Replacement
In an unexpected twist ahead of this Saturday’s highly anticipated clash between undefeated lightweight Floyd Schofield and Shakur Stevenson, Schofield has officially been pulled from the fight by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) due to illness. This decision came after Schofield failed to show up for today’s Grand Arrivals, casting doubt on his participation.
With the clock ticking down to the Riyadh Season event, organizers have quickly turned their attention to potential last-minute replacements, and two names have emerged as frontrunners. According to The Ring, the top contenders for the vacant spot are BoxRec No. 12 super featherweight Moussa Gholam (22-1, 13 KO) and WBC No. 12 lightweight Josh Padley (15-0, 4 KO).
Gholam, whose biggest fight to date saw him narrowly lose a split decision to world-ranked Elnur Samedov in 2022, hasn’t faced an opponent of Stevenson’s caliber yet, making this opportunity a major step up. Padley, fresh off his upset victory over Turki Alalshikh’s protégé, Mark Chamberlain, in September, could be another interesting option. While neither fighter is expected to trouble the 22-0 Stevenson, both bring a certain level of intrigue to the event considering the quick turnaround.
While the matchup may not be as exciting as the originally scheduled bout between Stevenson and Schofield, who was last seen rising off the canvas to defeat veteran Rene Tellez Giron in November, organizers are doing their best to secure a competitive fight. Given the circumstances, fans will likely have to adjust their expectations, though, as finding a top-level opponent on just four days’ notice isn’t an easy task.
Schofield’s absence from the card is unfortunate, especially considering he had initially been tapped as Stevenson’s opponent after a hand injury to mandatory challenger William Zepeda derailed their planned showdown. However, Schofield remains undefeated at 18-0, with 12 knockouts, and will likely bounce back with another major opportunity in the near future.
For now, fans will have to wait and see who will step in to face the talented Stevenson. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation as we inch closer to fight night.
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