Floyd Schofield Targeting a Fight With Joseph Diaz Next
Word on the street is that what could be on the horizon for lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (16-0, 16 KOs) is a battle against former IBF champion Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz (33-4-1, 15 KOs). The two fighters have done their share of trash-talking. Unbridled with confidence, Schofield believes he will defeat Diaz and send him into retirement.
Kid Austin is coming off a one-round destruction of Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres on December 2 on the undercard of Ryan Garcia versus Oscar Duarte. Afterward, Schofield sat down with FightHype. When asked about Diaz, Schofield said the following:
“All respect to Jo Jo. Not being disrespectful or getting out of hand, but he needs to know his place. At the end of the day, he’s a former champion, a 2012 Olympian, but his time is over.
His time is over and if he can’t tell that, it’s on him . . . Business is business, and I’m going to have to do what I have to do.”
YOUTH VERSUS EXPERIENCE
If the fight occurs, consider it a crossroads matchup. There are high hopes for the 21-year-old Schofield from his promoter, Golden Boy. The promotional giant believes that he will be a world champion by the end of 2024. A fight against Diaz would be step one toward that ultimate goal.
Diaz is the definition of a grizzled vet. Following three straight losses, he jumped back on the winning track with a unanimous decision victory over Jerry Perez in July 2023.
When on his game, the 31-year-old Diaz can give anyone at 130 or 135 all they could handle. Jo Jo thinks he still has enough in the tank to make one last world title run. Hearing what Schofield had to say about him, Diaz responded on social media.
There’s a backstory between the two fighters. As a 17-year-old amateur, Schofield sparred Diaz. Now, they could fight in the paid ranks with much more on the line. They are both handled by Golden Boy. Look for this possible fight either late this winter or early spring of 2024.
