Eddie Hearn says it’s not his “responsibility” if the “right time” is for newcomer Floyd Schofield to challenge Shakur Stevenson for his WBC lightweight title on February 22. All Hearn knows is that he’s been “calling” Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) “for ages,” and that makes him an option for his next fight.
(Credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
Schofield’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya grilled Hearn during his Clap on Thursday this week, blasting him for trying to make a fight between his inexperienced “prospect” instead of choosing one of the other contenders, as and Frank Martin or Raymond Muratalla. .
De La Hoya didn’t talk about Andy Cruz, but he should be the # 1 choice. He is one of Hearn’s fighters and an Olympic gold medalist.
Hearn: They accepted the offer
“We made an offer to Golden Boy from my understanding, they accepted, but the fights have to be approved by His Excellency, by Riyadh Season, and by Shakur,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing news about a fight between Shakur Stevenson and Floyd Schofield for February 22.
“It is not our responsibility who accepts a fight against Shakur. Our responsibility is Shakur Stevenson, and to make the most convincing fight for him that can be done. (William) Zepeda was the fight. We all agree. He apparently hurt his hand in that fight (Tevin Farmer), and he doesn’t want to fight anymore.
“So, let’s go. It could be Muratalla. It could be Floyd Schofield. It could be all these guys calling Shakur out. It’s not our responsibility to let them know if it’s the right time for them. Schofield called Shakur for ages with his father, with his team,” Hearn said.
Schofield and his father, Floyd Sr., have called all the champions at 135, and it’s obvious they’re just looking for a payday. “Kid Austin” Schofield has yet to fight a world-class fighter during his four-year professional career, and it wasn’t a great amateur period when he turned professional. He was a decent amateur but not Olympic material.
Golden Boy Promotions have been pitting Schofield against youth level fighters throughout his young career, helping him develop and build a record. He is nowhere near ready to fight for a world title against any of the lightweight champions.
“If he’s ready for the challenge, I like the fight. I think he’s a great, young fighter, and I don’t think it’s ever a good time to fight Shakur Stevenson because I think he’s a great pound for pound. If you want roll the dice against a real pound for pound, that’s for you. I don’t know if Stevenson-Schofield will happen, but we’re ready,” Hearn said.
Shakur will be a Massive Favorite
It is understandable why Hearn is willing to make the Shakur-Schofield fight because his fighter, Shakur, would be a big favorite to win. However, we don’t see the same energy from Hearn to push Stevenson back into deep water with Edwin De Los Santos, Andy Cruz or Raymond Muratalla.
It’s easy for Hearn to be eager to make a fight between Shakur and the 22-year-old prospect Schofield, because his fighter is expected to school the newcomer, who has just started, and looked horribly bad in his last fight. Why isn’t Hearn pushing to match Shakur against the Cuban, Andy Cruz, that he’s promoting?
2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz is one of Hearn’s Matchroom fighters, and he’s not getting any younger at 29. Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) is worlds superior to Schofield in talent, highly ranked, and is rotting on the vine, facing him. scrubs. Why isn’t Hearn making a fight between Cruz and Shakur?
