Lightweight Floyd Schofield gained valuable championship experience on Saturday night, going 12 rounds for the first time in his career against Rene Tellez Giron at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
Schofield, however, faced unexpected adversity, hitting the canvas in the 11th round after Giron landed a glancing left hook. Even with the knockdown, the judges scored it 118-109 (twice) and 116-111 in favor of Schofield.
Schofield, 22, from Austin, Texas, proved his resilience against the determined 25-year-old Giron, of Mexico. Schofield’s performance seemed to confirm what he and promoter Golden Boy have been saying: He is ready for bigger challenges.
“You are not going to knock everybody out,” Schofield said postfight, noting the lessons learned.
The opening round featured an explosive Schofield using a sharp jab to control the pace. In the second, Schofield switched to a southpaw stance as Giron pressed forward but struggled to match his opponent’s speed and timing. A left hook in the third round from Schofield triggered a fierce exchange, with Giron momentarily wobbling Schofield in the final moments. The fighter’s trainer and father, Floyd Schofield Sr., admonished his son in the corner for engaging in risky exchanges, urging him to stick to boxing.
Schofield returned to a more strategic approach in the fourth round, but Giron began timing his punches in the fifth, landing a big right hand and connecting with a left hook during an exchange. In the sixth, Giron targeted Schofield’s body while Schofield kept Giron on the defensive with well-placed shots. Referee Thomas Taylor issued Giron a stern warning for hitting behind the head, reiterating it between rounds.
Schofield maintained control in the seventh, though a left hook from Giron briefly caught his attention. Despite winning most of the exchanges, Schofield remained wary of Giron’s power. The ninth round saw Schofield resume a disciplined boxing approach, but the 10th brought back aggressive exchanges, highlighted by a body shot that seemed to affect Giron. Schofield began sitting on his punches more, but he was also cautioned by the referee for holding mid-round.
The unexpected knockdown came in the 11th, when a left hook combined with balance issues to send Schofield to the canvas. He quickly rose and traded punches with Giron, who, while active, was not landing significantly. Schofield’s father expressed frustration at his son’s willingness to brawl rather than stick to the plan.
The fight showcased Schofield’s potential and the learning curve of a young fighter as he navigates moments of tactical lapses. At the final bell, Schofield and Giron shared an embrace, acknowledging the hard-fought battle.
When asked about his future, Schofield set his sights on lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson.
“I already know who I want next – Twitter son, you know, he talks too much,” Schofield said. “Shakur is not Rene. Shakur doesn’t have the power like Rene; he doesn’t have that dog in him. It’s going to be a very one-sided fight, in my opinion.”
With the win, Schofield improved to 18-0 (12 KOs), marking his second victory of 2024. Giron, who saw his three-fight win streak end, now holds a record of 20-4 (13 KOs).
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.
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