Rising lightweight prospect Floyd Schofield Jr. will take another significant step in his career when he faces former super-featherweight world champion Joseph Diaz Jr. on November 8. The bout will take place at the Dickies Arena in Texas, serving as part of the undercard for the Golden Boy Promotions event headlined by Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Erickson Lubin.
While Diaz (34-8-1, 15 KOs) is a seasoned and durable opponent, the matchup comes after earlier talks for Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) to challenge IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla fell through. Still, this opportunity allows the 23-year-old—nicknamed “Kid Austin”—to solidify his status as the WBA’s top-ranked contender at 135 pounds.
Schofield’s stock rose dramatically in June when he delivered a stunning first-round knockout of former world champion Tevin Farmer. That victory helped quiet critics, many of whom had questioned his resolve following his withdrawal from a scheduled February fight against WBC champion Shakur Stevenson.
As for Diaz, the 32-year-old southpaw is trying to keep his career afloat following a recent hard-fought loss to Regis Prograis. During that bout, Diaz alarmed observers by failing a ringside eye test, though he was inexplicably allowed to continue the fight. Despite signs that he may be nearing the end of his career, Diaz is still seen as a legitimate test for Schofield, albeit a winnable one.
Also slated for the card are appearances by unbeaten heavyweight prospect Joshua Edwards and Darius Fulghum, who is looking to rebound after a defeat to super-middleweight contender Bektemir Melikuziev. Both are expected to face relatively modest opposition as they aim to get back on track.
