Following a high-stakes weekend of championship boxing, legendary promoter and Golden Boy Promotions head Oscar De La Hoya has shared his assessment of Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield’s impressive world title victory over Lucas Bahdi. The hard-fought decision win not only added a prestigious belt to Schofield’s rapidly growing resume but also firmly established the young contender among the elite ranks of the talent-rich lightweight division.
Speaking to members of the media immediately after the event, De La Hoya offered high praise for his fighter’s tactical execution and maturity inside the ring, while also outlining the lucrative and challenging landscape of potential matchups that lie ahead for the newly crowned champion.
According to the Hall of Fame promoter, Schofield’s performance against a dangerous adversary deserved top marks. When asked to evaluate the fight, De La Hoya did not hesitate to hand down a glowing grade.
“I give him an A, considering Bahdi is probably the biggest puncher at 135 pounds,” De La Hoya stated, highlighting the severe power threat that Bahdi brought into the squared circle. “So I can understand the boxing, I can understand the moving, this and that, but what Kid Austin did tonight, they executed perfectly by boxing, by almost even knocking out Bahdi in the first few rounds. But it was a great fight, and that’s what a championship fight is all about — the No. 1 and No. 2 fighting and fighting for that belt.”
The matchup between Schofield and Bahdi delivered the kind of drama and high-level competition that fans have come to expect from elite divisional showdowns. While Bahdi’s fearsome punching power always posed a lingering threat that required cautious navigation, Schofield demonstrated a mature ability to adapt. Rather than engaging in a reckless firefight that could have played into his opponent’s hands, “Kid Austin” utilized his mobility, crisp footwork, and sharp combinations to control the pace of the fight. Notably, Schofield even threatened to end the contest early, stunning Bahdi and nearly securing a knockout in the opening stanzas of the bout.
With the championship belt now securely in his possession, the conversation surrounding Schofield has immediately shifted toward what comes next. The 135-pound weight class remains one of the most talent-dense and heavily scrutinized divisions in the entire sport of boxing, featuring an array of undefeated prospects, unified champions, and dangerous contenders across multiple promotional stables. Fortunately for Schofield, his promoter believes the options are plentiful and rich with potential.
“There’s a lot of options [for Schofield],” De La Hoya noted regarding the strategic pathway for his star fighter’s upcoming defenses. “He can fight [William] Zepeda in house, we can go after [Abdullah] Mason who is another good fighter who Top Rank has. So, there’s a lot of options, so we’re going to go back to the drawing board and see what Kid Austin wants to do and we’ll take it from there.”
Among the potential blockbusters on the horizon, an in-house clash with fellow Golden Boy stablemate William Zepeda stands out as a particularly compelling possibility. Zepeda has long been recognized as a relentless pressure fighter who overwhelms opponents with sheer volume and relentless forward motion. De La Hoya acknowledged the intrigue of such an internal matchup, noting the stark contrast in styles that would make a bout between Schofield and Zepeda a must-see event for boxing enthusiasts worldwide.
“I think him and Zepeda would be the big fight to do,” De La Hoya said. “I mean, Zepeda looked like a beast in his last fight. It’ll be interesting because Zepeda doesn’t have the power like Lucas Bahdi, but he has the punch output which can make for a great, great, great fight. So we’ll see what happens.”
As the dust settles on his latest triumph, Floyd Schofield finds himself in an enviable position within the sport. Backed by the promotional acumen of Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, “Kid Austin” holds the leverage and the hardware to command major fights against the best the lightweight division has to offer. Whether that leads to an explosive domestic showdown against William Zepeda, a cross-promotional battle with Top Rank’s Abdullah Mason, or another high-profile defense against the division’s elite, the boxing world will be watching closely to see which path the young champion chooses to walk next.
