World title fight on Beterbiev vs Bivol card is called OFF just days before event – as bizarre ‘poison’ theory spreads on the internet

Shakur Stevenson’s world title fight bout against Floyd Schofield has been called off. 

The cancellation of the bout comes just days before the blockbuster card featuring Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol scheduled for Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The star-studded card features a number of world title fights however it will now have one fewer after news of Stevenson and Schofield’s bout being called off.

Schofield, 22, had initially showed up to Saudi Arabia and did his media duties on Monday but then vanished on Tuesday and wasn’t seen at the grand arrivals.

A wild ‘poison’ theory has since circulated the internet, suggesting that the lightweight challenger had been ‘spiked’. 

According to The Sun, leaked messages reportedly from Schofield’s dad, Floy Schofield Sr, accused unnamed people of poisoning his son.

Shakur Stevenson’s (right) world title fight against Floyd Schofield (left) has been called off

The cancellation comes after Schofield fell ill and failed to show up at the grand arrivals

A text sent to Schofield Sr was leaked online, read: ‘This isn’t something to take lightly Sr. I’m not trying to play no games.

‘I got love for y’all and looking out, but they spiked your son’.

Reports also claim that matchmakers are searching for a new opponent for Stevenson to face on the night.

Elsewhere, the likes of Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker and Callum Smith will all be fighting on the night on a card that is being touted as potentially the best of all time.

All eyes will be on the rematch between Russian pair Beterbiev and Bivol, with the match-up for the undisputed world light heavyweight championship after Beterbiev was crowned the division’s first undisputed champion since 2002 earlier on this year.

The Russian duo put on a classic in October with a narrow victory going to Beterbiev, but there was outrage from the losing camp when the scores were announced.

While one judge had a draw at 114-114 and another gave Beterbiev a 115-113 win, there was outcry after Pawel Kardyni awarded Beterbiev a 116-112 victory.

There are reports that matchmakers are looking to find Stevenson another opponent 

Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn claimed it was an ‘absolute joke’ and that his fighter, never before beaten, had been ‘robbed’ – though he would have lost even if Kardyni had awarded a closer score. 

‘We’re going to file a protest on Monday,’ Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov told BoxNation.

‘I think the judge has to at least have some kind of responsibility for what he did. It’s becoming very destructive to the sport what they’re doing.

‘These organisations (sanctioning bodies) have supervisors, the supervisors are friendly with the judges, they’re hugging the promoters, it’s beginning to look like a scheme.’