Schofield Beats Bahdi by Decision to Win WBA Title

Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield won the vacant WBA lightweight championship by beating Lucas Bahdi on a unanimous decision at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, but the Canadian’s heavy hands ensured that his coronation was anything but comfortable. Schofield’s speed and movement carried him through twelve rounds in which both men were credited with knockdowns and the handling of other falls invited argument.

The scores were 116 to 110, 115 to 111 and 119 to 108. The first two reflected a contest Schofield deserved to win; the third suggested Bahdi had scarcely participated. He had done considerably more than that, repeatedly reminding the new champion that an advantage in speed offers no exemption from being hurt.

Schofield, 24, improved from nineteen victories without defeat to twenty, with thirteen knockouts. Bahdi, 32, suffered his first professional loss after twenty wins, fifteen inside the distance. The American from Austin, Texas, and the Canadian from Niagara Falls, Ontario, arrived with unbeaten records and considerable punching reputations. Only Schofield left with both his record intact and a championship belt.

The title became available after the WBA designated Gervonta Davis champion in recess in June, citing legal proceedings that could interfere with his championship obligations. Golden Boy Promotions and Most Valuable Promotions brought their contenders together on a DAZN broadcast. Schofield made the lightweight limit on his second attempt at the weigh in, registering 135 pounds; Bahdi weighed 134.

Both had endured lengthy inactivity. Schofield’s previous appearance was his opening round stoppage of former champion Tevin Farmer in June 2025. Bahdi last fought in August of that year, beating Roger Gutierrez on points. His earlier knockout of Ashton Sylve established his ability to overturn a fight with one damaging attack. Schofield could not afford to forget it.

The opening exchanges introduced the central problem for Bahdi. Schofield could strike and move before the Canadian settled into position to unload. His quicker hands and changes of distance gave him room to work, while Bahdi advanced looking to make his heavier punches count. Schofield was effective when he fired from range and refused to remain available for the reply.

In the third, the American turned that advantage into a substantial breakthrough. He hurt Bahdi, pursued him with further punches and landed a check hook that sent him backwards into the ropes. Their support prevented a complete fall, but an eight count was administered. Bahdi recovered sufficiently to continue, although Schofield secured both the scoring advantage and proof that his opponent could be shaken.

The round ended with another incident requiring a distinction between a fall and an official knockdown. Schofield went down amid an exchange at the bell, but no count was given. Reports placed Bahdi’s body punch after the bell. It was a rough conclusion to a round in which the Canadian had demonstrated his ability to survive trouble.

Bahdi’s most forceful answer came in the sixth. A heavy right hurt Schofield, and the American went down in an incident ruled a slip. He fired back and caught Bahdi with hard punches of his own. The exchanges exposed the danger of remaining close enough for the Canadian to trade. Schofield had the speed to compete there, but no assurance of escaping unharmed.

Thereafter, the value of his father and trainer’s instructions became increasingly apparent. Schofield returned to movement and picking his moments. The seventh was quieter; in the eighth, his southpaw jab helped keep Bahdi at distance. The Canadian was too often looking for one decisive punch while the American supplied the cleaner work. Pursuit alone was not collecting the rounds Bahdi needed.

CompuBox’s published summary reflected that restrained output. Bahdi averaged only twenty-six punches thrown per round. Schofield averaged thirty, landing ten. This was a contest shaped by positioning and individual successes rather than sustained volume, with the American’s movement repeatedly frustrating his opponent’s attempts to set himself.

Another contentious moment arrived in the ninth when Schofield’s knee touched the canvas after a Bahdi punch without a knockdown being awarded. In the eleventh, after a ringside medical examination of Bahdi, Schofield was officially counted over. Reports identified contact with his foot during that fall. He rose and continued, leaving the knockdown on the cards without allowing the incident to unravel his performance.

Schofield maintained his movement through the final round and resisted the temptation to turn the finish into another prolonged exchange. “It kind of feels like a dream,” he said afterwards. His respect for Bahdi’s punching was clear, as was the importance of following his father’s plan.

The evening’s other championship changed hands more abruptly. Sergio Mendoza stopped Ricardo Sandoval in the fifth after dropping him three times, taking the WBA and WBC flyweight titles. Jahmal Harvey stopped Pedro Castaneda in the third, while Jan Paul Rivera outpointed Abraham Perfecto unanimously.

Schofield now has the belt that makes his ambitions for larger fights credible. William Zepeda and Abdullah Mason feature among his stated unification targets. Bahdi leaves with his unbeaten record gone, but having tested the new champion’s composure. Schofield’s answer was sufficiently disciplined to win the title, even if the widest scorecard flattered the extent of his superiority.

I had Schofield winning, but the widest card did Bahdi a disservice. This was a tough examination of a talented fighter who still leaves himself available when he gets carried away attacking.

For me, Schofield’s feet won him this fight. When he punched from distance and moved before Bahdi could set himself, he controlled the exchanges. Switching southpaw and using the right jab also helped keep the Canadian reaching. When he stayed close and traded, Bahdi’s right hand exposed the gaps in his defensive work.

I liked Schofield’s response to being hurt. He fought back, then showed enough sense to return to his father’s instructions. Having quick hands is useful; knowing when to stop exchanging is what keeps you winning against dangerous punchers.

Bahdi was too patient for his own good. He kept hunting the damaging shot without doing enough to hold Schofield in position. You cannot follow a mobile opponent around and expect power alone to win the rounds.

Schofield earned the belt. But against better pressure fighters, he needs tighter defence and more discipline after punching. The talent is there; the mistakes are still there too.