‘He ran away’ – Devin Haney got ‘buckled’ in sparring by one of America’s brightest prospects
Floyd Schofield Jr’s father claims his son ‘buckled’ Devin Haney’s knees during a sparring session when ‘Kid Austin’ was a teenager. The fast-rising 22-year-old is set to take a leap up in competition on February 22 against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson on the stacked Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II undercard in Saudi Arabia. Schofield Jr is one of America’s brightest prospectsGETTY Schofield’s impressive 18-0 start to his fledgling career has led to him being touted ‘as a future world champion’ by several members of the boxing fraternity. However, he has yet to test himself against the divisional elite. Rather than taking on top ten lightweights such as Andy Cruz, Frank Martin or William Zepeda, Schofield is skipping a level and getting in there with arguably the most technically gifted fighter at 135lbs. It is an admirable quality from a young boxer competing in a sport that has been plagued by ducking and diving in the past. But his confidence is not unfounded. Schofield Jr and his father and trainer Schofield Sr insist ‘Kid Austin’ has already proved he can hang with the upper echelons of the division in sparring. Particularly, against former undisputed lightweight champion Haney and fellow hot prospect Abdullah Mason. “The only one that stepped up to the plate in Shakur. Everybody else [ducked Schofield Jr],” Schofield Sr told talkSPORT.com. “He buckled Devin Haney [in sparring] and Devin ran up to weight classes to get away from him… “Devin broke his hand getting out of the ring when he was preparing for the [Yuriorkis] Gamboa fight (November 2020). Schofield Sr claims his son ‘buckled’ Haney in sparring “And [Abdullah] Mason was there. And we also hurt Mason when I told Floyd just to work defence with Abdullah Mason. “So everybody that you are calling the top he already showed he’s better than them. “So right now, it is about us going and showing the world. “We are number 40 in the WBC and we took a fight against the No.1 guy, the one everybody is ducking so that should everybody what we are about. “Vasyl Lomachenko ducked Shakur, William Zepeda ducked Shakur, we are the only people who stepped up to fight this guy because he is gifted.” Sparring high-quality operators is a crucial part of a young boxer’s development, and Schofield Jr has shared rounds with some of the best, including upcoming opponent Stevenson, the aforementioned Haney and former welterweight champion Shawn Porter. Schofield Sr also claims his son ‘hurt’ Mason (right) as well Asked who impressed him the most, Schofield Jr replied: “It was Shakur because with Shakur you have got to think, he is a genius when you are in there with him. “Shawn Porter was rough and rugged in there, he showed his football strength. “Xander [Zayas] was pretty decent too. There is a couple, but I would put Shakur up there and probably Shawn because with Shawn you have got to fight. “Shawn is very top heavy, his upper body strength is pretty good and he’s very athletic so when you are on the inside and you try and turn him, he is going to turn you right back. “So with Shawn, you have got to fight him off, I feel like that is what I did but Shawn was good sparring.” Boxing WhatsApp channel Get the latest fight news, reaction and the best opinion from talkSPORT pundits in our Boxing WhatsApp channel. Follow our Boxing channel HERE.
Floyd Schofield Jr’s father claims his son ‘buckled’ Devin Haney’s knees during a sparring session when ‘Kid Austin’ was a teenager.
The fast-rising 22-year-old is set to take a leap up in competition on February 22 against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson on the stacked Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II undercard in Saudi Arabia.
Schofield’s impressive 18-0 start to his fledgling career has led to him being touted ‘as a future world champion’ by several members of the boxing fraternity.
However, he has yet to test himself against the divisional elite.
Rather than taking on top ten lightweights such as Andy Cruz, Frank Martin or William Zepeda, Schofield is skipping a level and getting in there with arguably the most technically gifted fighter at 135lbs.
It is an admirable quality from a young boxer competing in a sport that has been plagued by ducking and diving in the past.
But his confidence is not unfounded.
Schofield Jr and his father and trainer Schofield Sr insist ‘Kid Austin’ has already proved he can hang with the upper echelons of the division in sparring.
Particularly, against former undisputed lightweight champion Haney and fellow hot prospect Abdullah Mason.
“The only one that stepped up to the plate in Shakur. Everybody else [ducked Schofield Jr],” Schofield Sr told talkSPORT.com.
“He buckled Devin Haney [in sparring] and Devin ran up to weight classes to get away from him…
“Devin broke his hand getting out of the ring when he was preparing for the [Yuriorkis] Gamboa fight (November 2020).
“And [Abdullah] Mason was there. And we also hurt Mason when I told Floyd just to work defence with Abdullah Mason.
“So everybody that you are calling the top he already showed he’s better than them.
“So right now, it is about us going and showing the world.
“We are number 40 in the WBC and we took a fight against the No.1 guy, the one everybody is ducking so that should everybody what we are about.
“Vasyl Lomachenko ducked Shakur, William Zepeda ducked Shakur, we are the only people who stepped up to fight this guy because he is gifted.”
Sparring high-quality operators is a crucial part of a young boxer’s development, and Schofield Jr has shared rounds with some of the best, including upcoming opponent Stevenson, the aforementioned Haney and former welterweight champion Shawn Porter.
Asked who impressed him the most, Schofield Jr replied: “It was Shakur because with Shakur you have got to think, he is a genius when you are in there with him.
“Shawn Porter was rough and rugged in there, he showed his football strength.
“Xander [Zayas] was pretty decent too. There is a couple, but I would put Shakur up there and probably Shawn because with Shawn you have got to fight.
“Shawn is very top heavy, his upper body strength is pretty good and he’s very athletic so when you are on the inside and you try and turn him, he is going to turn you right back.
“So with Shawn, you have got to fight him off, I feel like that is what I did but Shawn was good sparring.”
Boxing WhatsApp channel
Get the latest fight news, reaction and the best opinion from talkSPORT pundits in our Boxing WhatsApp channel.
Follow our Boxing channel HERE.
