Floyd Schofield will face Lukas Bahdi for the vacant WBA lightweight world title on 10 October. Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions reached an agreement to avoid a purse bid, scheduling the top two contenders to clash for Gervonta Davis’s former belt.
The match pairs the sanctioning body’s two highest-ranked challengers, with Schofield ranked number one and Bahdi positioned at number two. Schofield, 23, brings an unbeaten record of 19 victories with 13 knockouts into the contest. However, the American faces a 16-month period of ring inactivity when he steps into the bout. His last appearance came in June 2025, when he stopped former junior lightweight champion Tevin Farmer in the opening round. That win followed a planned title challenge against Shakur Stevenson in February 2025, which fell apart during fight week when Schofield pulled out through illness.
Speed and youth remain Schofield’s primary assets. Still, Bahdi presents a formidable challenge.
The 32-year-old Canadian holds an undefeated record of 20 wins, including 15 by stoppage. Bahdi built his position in the division following a sixth-round knockout of Ashton Sylve in July 2024. He subsequently earned victories over Armando Casamonica and Ryan James Racaza, handing both boxers their first professional defeats. In his most recent outing last August, Bahdi secured a 12-round unanimous decision over former WBA junior lightweight champion Roger Gutierrez.
Schofield’s manager, Michael Miller, confirmed the deal to media outlets. “The fight takes place October 10. We are 99% sure it will be in Las Vegas,” Miller stated.
He added: “We are thankful for the chance to fight for a title. It is something we have waited on for years.”
The agreement bypassed the WBA’s scheduled purse bid and its $150,000 minimum requirement. The Ring magazine currently ranks Schofield sixth and Bahdi eighth in the lightweight ranks. For Schofield, this championship fixture provides the title shot he has targeted throughout his professional career. For Bahdi, it offers the opportunity to capitalize on a late-career surge and cement his standing among the elite at 135 pounds. The winner will claim the vacant crown and step into the top tier of the division.
