Floyd Schofield is questioning Gervonta Davis’s intentions after the WBA negotiation deadline for their mandatory fight passed without a deal. Schofield’s camp suggests Davis’s sudden interest in fighting Devin Haney is a way to avoid him, calling the timing of the move suspicious.
The WBA ordered Davis to defend his lightweight championship against Schofield in May, setting a June 22 deadline for the two sides to reach an agreement. That date has passed with no official announcement, and reports are now linking Davis to a major fight with Devin Haney instead. This development has drawn a sharp response from Schofield, who believes the champion is avoiding a mandatory obligation.
Schofield did not hold back his frustration. “I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but my dad is saying that’s a clear duck,” Schofield stated. He pointed directly to the timing of the Haney rumors. “Now, all of a sudden on the same way that we were supposed to come to an agreement for a purse bid, now you want to fight Devin Haney.”
The undefeated challenger, who holds a record of 19-0 with 13 knockouts, feels Davis had other opportunities to pursue a fight with Haney. “You could have fought Devin last year. You could have fought Devin when you was lining up that fight with Jake Paul. Now, all of a sudden, you want to fight Devin. I don’t want to say what it is.”
His father, Schofield Sr., was more direct in his assessment. “That man doesn’t want to fight you. It’s okay to say, ‘I don’t want to fight,’” he said.
While stopping short of a direct accusation, Schofield Jr. made his feelings clear about the situation. “I’m not going to say what I want to say, but it’s a little weird. There’s something shaky in there. I ain’t going to lie,” he said, before adding, “That’s some bitch stuff.”
The immediate consequence is that the WBA must now make a decision. The sanctioning body could strip Davis of his title for failing to face his mandatory challenger. If the belt becomes vacant, Schofield is positioned to fight for it. It is a resolution he is prepared to accept. “Hey, I’ll take the belt [WBA lightweight title]. Thank you,” Schofield said.
