Schofield and Bahdi Meet for Vacant WBA Lightweight Title in Chicago as Mendoza Replaces Injured Collazo
Unbeaten lightweights Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi fight for the WBA belt that Gervonta Davis left behind on October 10 at Wintrust Arena. In the co-feature, Ricardo Sandoval now defends his flyweight titles against Sergio Mendoza after Oscar Collazo pulled out with a rib injury.
Two unbeaten lightweights, Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi, meet for the vacant WBA 135-pound title on Saturday, October 10, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The co-feature has already changed shape: a rib injury forced Oscar Collazo out, and Mexico's Sergio Mendoza now challenges unified flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval.
A Belt Left Behind by Gervonta Davis
The WBA lightweight title is open because Gervonta Davis is not using it. Forbes reported that the sanctioning body named Davis "champion in recess" in January while he was dealing with legal problems. That move opened the regular title to the contenders below him.
By early August the WBA had ordered Schofield against Bahdi. BoxingNews24 reported a purse bid set for August 11, with a minimum of $150,000 and the money split evenly. The bid would decide who promoted the fight and where it took place. Golden Boy Promotions ended up with the event. Dan Rafael's newsletter reported the Chicago date and DAZN broadcast on August 28, and the title fight is scheduled for 12 rounds.
Two Unbeaten Records on the Line
Schofield is 19-0 with 13 knockouts and is 24 years old. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and later moved to Austin, Texas, which gave him the ring name "Kid Austin." His route to a title has been full of delays. A February 2025 shot at Shakur Stevenson's WBC belt fell apart during fight week when he became ill. A later booking against Joseph Diaz Jr. was cancelled because of a wrist injury, according to BoxingNews24.
His most recent fight was in June 2025 in Anaheim, California, where he knocked out Tevin Farmer in the first round to win the vacant WBA Continental title. He has not fought since. By October 10 that gap will be more than 15 months, and it is one of the main questions hanging over the fight.
Bahdi, 32, is from Niagara Falls, Ontario, and has a 20-0 record with 15 knockouts. TSN noted that he turned professional in 2019 and won his first eleven fights inside the distance. The WBA had him ranked No. 2 when it ordered the fight. He has been out for a long stretch as well: Forbes lists his last fight as a points win over Roger Gutierrez in August 2025. When the bout was confirmed, Schofield said he was "just one fight away from accomplishing my dream of becoming a world champion," a line quoted in Rafael's report.
Collazo's Rib Injury Reshapes the Co-Feature
As first announced, the card's second fight had Oscar Collazo, the strawweight champion, moving up two divisions to face Ricardo Sandoval for the WBA and WBC flyweight titles. On September 18, FIGHTMAG reported that Collazo had pulled out with a rib injury picked up in training. He called the setback a postponement and said he still intends to make the fight.
The Ring confirmed the replacement on September 25. Sergio Mendoza of Hermosillo, Sonora, is 27-1 with 23 knockouts, is 26 years old and will be fighting in the United States for the first time. His only defeat came in April in Japan, when IBF 108-pound champion Thanongsak Simsri stopped him in the second round. Mendoza now moves up to flyweight to fight for two world titles at once.
Sandoval is 27-2 with 18 knockouts. He won his belts in July 2025 in Japan, beating Kenshiro Teraji by split decision, and this is his first defense. Sources give different hometowns for him: The Ring lists Rialto, California, and FIGHTMAG gives Montclair, California.
Wintrust Arena and a Promotional Rivalry
Forbes writer Brian Mazique framed the main event as more than a fight for a vacant belt. He described it as a contest between Golden Boy and Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, and quoted Oscar De La Hoya's claim that no one develops fighters like Golden Boy does. A win for Schofield would give Golden Boy a young lightweight champion. A win for Bahdi would give a Canadian a major world title after a long climb.
The undercard also has two U.S. Olympians still early in their pro careers, lightweight Jahmal Harvey (4-0, 3 KOs) and heavyweight Joshua Edwards (7-0, 6 KOs), according to The Ring. DAZN streams the whole card worldwide.
Whoever wins the main event takes a title Davis has not defended. While the WBA keeps him listed as champion in recess, the new titleholder will hold the belt with Davis's status still unresolved.
Sources
- Golden Boy vs. Jake Paul's MVP — and a vacant belt Gervonta Davis left behind, Forbes (via Yahoo Sports), 30 September 2026
- Sandoval to defend flyweight titles against Mendoza on Oct. 10, The Ring, 25 September 2026
- Sandoval to face new opponent in Chicago in October, FIGHTMAG, 25 September 2026
- Oscar Collazo withdraws from Ricardo Sandoval fight due to injury, FIGHTMAG, 18 September 2026
- Notebook: Schofield, Bahdi to fight for vacant WBA lightweight title, Dan Rafael (Substack), 28 August 2026
- WBA orders Floyd Schofield vs. Lucas Bahdi purse bid for vacant lightweight title, BoxingNews24, 1 August 2026
- Undefeated Canadian boxer Bahdi will fight for WBA lightweight world championship in October, TSN, 2026
- Floyd Schofield, Wikipedia, accessed 3 October 2026
