Floyd Schofield vs Lucas Bahdi

This is the best-matched fight of two unbeaten lightweights with genuine ambition and enough punching power to punish mistakes. Floyd Schofield is the quicker, flashier talent, while Lucas Bahdi is the calmer, more methodical puncher. I don’t see a mismatch here. I see a young fighter’s discipline being examined.

Schofield’s advantage is his explosive hand speed. He can jump into range, fire four punches and disappear before most opponents have set their feet. When he stays balanced and boxes behind the jab, he looks a serious handful. But he gets excited, admires his combinations and sometimes pulls straight back with his chin exposed. Rene Tellez Giron dropped him late after Schofield became careless. Schofield recovered to finish the fight, but the defensive warning was obvious.

Bahdi isn’t as naturally quick, and he can surrender rounds while waiting for openings. That nearly cost him against Ashton Sylve. His technical advantage is his counter left hook, particularly when an opponent steps in square after throwing the right hand. Sylve controlled the fight until Bahdi found that exact opening and flattened him. The finishing combination ended with a perfectly placed left hook.

I’m expecting a really good, evenly matched fight, but on home ground I expect Schofield to win the early rounds and hang on to come out the winner. My big worry is the 16-month layoff since the Tevin Farmer win, which lasted only 78 seconds.