British boxer steps in for last-minute world title shot on Beterbiev vs Bivol card after fighter was hospitalised amid bizarre ‘poison’ allegation
- Floyd Schofield Jr pulled out of his scheduled fight against Shakur Stevenson
- He was hospitalised on Tuesday and his dad claimed he had been poisoned
- British lightweight Josh Padley stepped in and is unbeaten in his last 15 bouts
British boxer Josh Padley has stepped in at the last minute to fight Shakur Stevenson in Saudi Arabia this weekend after Floyd Schofield Jr was forced to withdraw.
Schofield Jr was dropped from the card after being hospitalised on Tuesday, having initially showed up for media duties before disappearing ahead of the grand arrivals.
Padley, unbeaten in his last 15 bouts, will take on WBC lightweight champion Stevenson in his place, in what will be his first world championship contest.
Alarmingly, Schofield Jr’s father posted a photo of his son in his hospital bed on Wednesday and vehemently denied he was ‘ducking’ the fight.
According to The Sun, leaked messages reportedly from Schofield Sr accused unnamed people of poisoning his son, a wild theory that has since circulated online.
A text sent to Schofield Sr was leaked online and read: ‘This isn’t something to take lightly Sr. I’m not trying to play no games.
Floyd Schofield Jr was forced to withdraw from his world title fight against Shakur Stevenson
Schofield Jr’s father posted a concerning photo of his son in a hospital bed on Wednesday
Stevenson (pictured) will instead take on unbeaten British challenger Josh Padley
‘I got love for y’all and looking out, but they spiked your son.’
A screenshot of the message was then shared on social media by Schofield Sr, who affirmed his belief that his son had been targeted in a statement given to talkSPORT.
‘Floyd will be ok and make a full recovery… someone tried to kill him,’ he said.
A statement from Schofield Jr’s promoters Golden Boy confirmed the lightweight challenger ‘fell ill’ but had now been released from hospital.
‘Yesterday, Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. fell ill and was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure,’ the statement read.
‘In the interest of Schofield’s health and safety, the British Boxing Board of Control made the decision to cancel his scheduled bout against Shakur Stevenson.
‘Schofield has since been discharged from the hospital and is awaiting the results of his medical evaluation. We extend our gratitude to HE Turki Alalshikh, SELA, and the medical professionals who provided Schofield with care.’
Robert Smith, the general secretary of the BBBofC, responded to the poisoning allegations, telling talkSPORT: ‘All I can tell you is that he went to a hospital and he’s been deemed not to box. Of course, it concerns me.
Schofield conducted his media duties but disappeared before the grand arrivals in Riyadh
His dad believes the fighter was poisoned and the theory has since spread on social media
‘It concerns me a lot about what the parents say when they don’t know the full facts.
‘When we get the full facts we will be able to find out what the full situation is.
‘At the moment we don’t know other than the fact that the kid is unfit to box.
‘But of course, it concerns me what people say. People can throw things out there all the time and then we have to look into, which we will.’
