Saturday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, was due to see a hot talent in action, with Vergil Ortiz Jr slated to take on WBA ‘regular’ welterweight champion, Eimantas Stanionis. That fight has now fallen by the wayside at the eleventh hour, on just over 48 hours notice due to a health concern for Ortiz Jr, with Floyd Schofield stepping into the main event to face Haskell Rhodes in a ten round lightweight contest.
Golden Boy promote Schofield vs Rhodes and DAZN televise the bill live worldwide.
Schofield (14-0, 11 KOs) had a busy 2022, scoring four inside schedule wins against the likes of Julio Sanchez (KO1), Juan Antonio Lopez (KO6), Rodrigo Guerrero (RTD5) and Daniel Rosas (KO1), and he has made gradual steps-up in class in 2023.
The 20-year-old went the full ten rounds for the first time in January, dropping Alberto Mercado in the second on the way to a shutout points win, and he was last out in April, knocking out Jesus Valentin Leon in two.
Rhodes (28-4-1, 13 KOs) has lost four of his last nine outings, but has been matched hard losing on the cards to Sergey Lipinets and Edner Cherry in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
The 35-year-old has only fought once in nearly four years though. After being stopped by Jason Sosa in seven in 2019, he returned in March this year with a six round decision win against Raymond Chacon.
Prediction: I think Schofield will be patient early on, but can then cut loose after the first four rounds, and stop Rhodes in the latter stages.
Golden Boy Promotions
Esparza-Alaniz meet in unification
There’s a unification match to head the undercard and Marlen Esparza (13-1, 1 KO) can add the WBO flyweight title to her WBC and WBA crowns with a points win against the unbeaten WBO queen, Gabriela Celeste Alaniz (14-0, 6 KOs), an Argentine making her second defence of the belt.
Diaz returns
JoJo Diaz (32-4-1, 15 KOs), a former super featherweight world champion, is on a run of three straight losses, but should get past Jerry Perez (14-2-1, 11 KOs) on the cards at lightweight.
Nothing’s been 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 to him, he’s put in the 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 for every thing he has. 💪 Joseph Diaz Jr. is back in the ring 👉this Saturday👈 LIVE on DAZN!! #ThisIsTheMoment #StanionisOrtizJr | LIVE on DAZN July 8th pic.twitter.com/7amFvdFDym
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) July 3, 2023
Remaining Undercard
At super welterweight, Eric Tudor (8-0, 6 KOs) should take a points win over eight against Reggie Harris Jr (7-3, 3 KOs), and in a six rounder at heavyweight, Tristan Kalkreuth (10-1, 7 KOs) should be able to halt Joe Jones (13-8, 10 KOs).
The sole four rounder is at light heavyweight, where Darius Fulghum (5-0, 5 KOs) can stop Jeremiah Cartwright (2-1, 2 KOs).
