Floyd Schofield called out WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason this week for a fight that would pit two of the division’s youngest talents against each other in 2026. The 23-year-old Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) has been idle since he stopped Tevin Farmer in the first round last June. He watched Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) claim the belt in a hard decision win over Sam Noakes in Saudi Arabia on November 22. Schofield believes the timing is right to interrupt the new champion’s reign before it truly begins.
The lightweight division is crowded with talent but rarely do we see two undefeated fighters under 24 willing to risk their records. Schofield told reporters he wants the fight immediately. He sees something in Mason’s performance against Noakes that suggests the 21-year-old is vulnerable to pressure.
Mason left a piece of himself in Riyadh during that battle with Noakes. Young fighters often recover quickly from physical damage but the neurological toll of a twelve-round war accumulates in silence. Schofield has fresh legs and zero scar tissue from 2025. He enters the ring with the arrogance of a puncher who has not yet had his chin checked by a great hitter. Mason showed grit in Saudi Arabia but grit shortens careers.
Footwork Over Hand Speed
Schofield relies on athleticism to overwhelm opponents. He leaps in with hooks and relies on his reflexes to exit the pocket. Mason is a technician who uses subtle shifts in weight to make opponents miss by inches. It reminds me of how Mike McCallum used to control the pace against younger, faster fighters by simply being in the right place before the punch was thrown. If Schofield lunges at Mason he will walk into a counter left hand that he never sees coming.
The WBO will likely order a mandatory defense for Mason before they approve a voluntary defense against a dangerous contender like Schofield. These belts come with fees and political obligations that often kill the fights the fans actually want to see. We might see Mason forced into a low-risk defense while Schofield spins his wheels on another undercard.
Schofield claims he will stop the champion. Mason has proven he can bite down on his gumshield and fight through the fog. Schofield has the power to end it early. Mason has the technique to make it a long, painful lesson in geometry.
Everybody always picks the fancy boxer over the power guy but when they get hit clean it changes everything 🤷♂️. Mason looked tired last fight, and tired don’t beat punches.
‘Tired don’t beat punches’ – that’s facts man 😂! All them skills don’t help when your face hitting gloves all night.
Honestly man, they talk about footwork like it’s some magic trick but if you can punch hard enough none of that matters 😤. Schofield got KO power and that’s what ends fights, not dancing!
Schofield jumps around like that with Mason and he gonna find himself asleep on the canvas 💤. There’s more to boxing than speed, and I don’t think Schofield learned that yet.
Mason ain’t gonna get scared just cause some dude says he wants a fight. Talk is cheap bro. Schofield acting like he’s already won but the ring ain’t Twitter 🥊
Exactly! These young fighters think calling someone out on camera means something. Mason been through real wars, Schofield just flexing till it’s time to actually swing.
I don’t get why people think Schofield is ready for Mason. Just cause he knocked out some guy in one round doesn’t mean he can do that to a champ. Mason fought hard and earned that belt. Schofield better learn how to last twelve rounds before talking big.