The highly-anticipated fight card headlined by Artur Bertebiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol has been dealt a blow with a last-minute undercard cancellation.
The historic event in Riyadh had seven world title or interim world title bouts lined up. One of the most eagerly awaited fights this weekend features Daniel Dubois, who will be defending his IBF heavyweight gold strap against seasoned fighter Joseph Parker.
However, the boxing community was left reeling when Floyd Schofield was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against Shakur Stevenson for the WBC world lightweight title.
Deemed ‘too ill’ on Tuesday night to receive clearance from the British Boxing Board of Control for his scheduled match against the champion, the 22-year-old American was already in Saudi Arabia preparing for Saturday night’s fight but failed to show up for the Grand Arrivals on Tuesday.
Speculation quickly spread that he had withdrawn after shocking allegations on social media suggested he had been poisoned.
His father, Floyd Sr, posted a video on Instagram showing his son in a hospital bed, although he did not disclose the exact reason for his son’s withdrawal. A mysterious message on the American boxer’s X account read: “People are going to feel dumb when they see the proof.
“People fear Floyd and this just made him more focused. Karma is very real… All things will be revealed in time. We look forward going home to Texas and on to the next fight. The fight game is so dirty on this level.”
While another post stated: “I won’t say his name but their team need to be banned from the sport. I can see why people duck him, because the bull that comes with his team.”
With Schofield out of the picture, Yorkshire’s own Josh Padley is set to step in as a surprise last-minute replacement to take on the American star this Saturday night.
The British contender, currently ranked 12th by the WBC for Stevenson’s 135-pound title, enters the bout fresh off a significant victory over previously undefeated Mark Chamberlain in September.
Before Schofield’s withdrawal, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn shared his thoughts on the situation with IFL TV, saying: “I don’t represent Floyd Schofield. What I believe is – one of the issues, and I’ll be completely honest, it’s a bit of a pain in the a**.
“(The BBBofC) have a very strict rule of a check weight on the Wednesday of fight week. Now I’m not saying that rule is a bad rule, but nowhere else in the world, to my knowledge, of any major commission, has that rule.
“All of a sudden, you’ve got a situation where a fighter like Floyd Schofield has to make a check weight tomorrow. He might want to train tonight. He really doesn’t want to be coming to the Grand Arrivals going, ‘Hello, everybody!’
“He’s getting ready for the check weight tomorrow. That’s why I believe he’s not here tonight. But that’s a question for Golden Boy, not for Eddie Hearn.”
