Floyd Schofield ready to make his skills speak against Rene Tellez Giron

Under the watchful eyes of Oscar De La Hoya, dressed as The Joker, and with Halloween spirit in the air, Floyd Schofield and Rene Tellez Giron held a respectful, gratitude-filled press conference ahead of their Saturday showdown. 

The lightweight main event from The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, will air on DAZN.

Schofield, 22, and undefeated at 17-0 (12 KOs), set a focused tone at the podium. “First off, I don’t do a lot of talking,” Schofield said, referring to his preference for letting his skills speak. “I am just ready to fight.” The Austin, Texas, fighter Schofield known as “Kid Austin” also shared how fatherhood has added perspective to his boxing career: “Being a new father showed me this isn’t about me anymore.”

Giron, 25, with a record of 20-3 (13 KOs), is best known for his 2019 knockout of Karlos Balderas. Riding a three-fight win streak, Giron expressed excitement for his first main event in Las Vegas. “I don’t know if he is taking me seriously, but on my side, I am ready for everything,” Giron said via a translator.

De La Hoya praised Schofield’s star potential: “I have always said ‘Kid Austin’ has it-factor,” the Golden Boy CEO De La Hoya said. “To not only be a champion but to be a star in the sport. He always goes for the knockout and is one of the most exciting fighters today.”

The co-main event will feature super middleweights Bektemir “Bek the Bully” Melikuziev, 14-1 (10 KOs), and David Stevens, 14-1 (10 KOs), in a WBA eliminator. Melikuziev, 28, has rebounded from his 2021 knockout loss to Gabriel Rosado with seven straight wins. Training with the Diaz brothers in Indio, California, he brought some humor to the event with a spirited “Cabrones, Mexican style, let’s go!” drawing laughs from the crowd. Stevens, 24, is looking to demonstrate the hard work he’s put in since his loss to Joeshon James last year. “I worked my ass off; I’m ready to fight,” he said.

In the women’s flyweight division, an undisputed champion will be crowned (unless we have a draw) when IBF titleholder Gabriela Fundora, 14-0 (6 KOs) meets unified belt holder Gabriela Alaniz 15-1 (6 KOs) of Argentina. “This is going to be historic,” Fundora, 22, said. “To become the youngest undisputed champion, male or female.”

Also on the card, 28-year-old super middleweight Darius Fulghum, 12-0 (10 KOs) from Houston Texas will take on the 33-year-old Christopher Pearson, 17-4-1 (12 KOs), from Selma, Texas. Fulghum credited Golden Boy executives Bernard Hopkins and De La Hoya for guiding his career. “I look at Bernard and want to thank him, not just for believing in me, but for showing me the way to live as a boxer outside the ring,” Fulghum said.

Opening the night, Bakersfield prospect Joel Iriarte, 21, undefeated at 4-0 (4 KOs), faces veteran Xavier Madrid, 5-5 (2 KOs) from Albuquerque, New Mexico. “This is my fifth fight in eight months,” Iriarte said. “I’m looking forward to putting on a great show.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.