WBA Orders Floyd Schofield To Face José Valenzuela

Floyd Schofield has until December 11 to reach a deal with José Valenzuela after the WBA ordered the lightweight champion to make his first mandatory defense. Valenzuela’s southpaw counterpunching could make it an awkward fight for Schofield, who won the title on October 10 and does some of his best work when he can close distance quickly.

The WBA opened a 30-day negotiating period on November 11. Its Championships Committee can call a purse bid if the camps fail to reach an agreement by the close of business on December 11 or if either side says it is unwilling to negotiate or take part. The WBA announcement gave no fight date or venue.

Schofield’s speed gives him a way to take the initiative against Valenzuela. The harder part will be getting back out after he attacks. Valenzuela can give ground as Schofield comes forward and look for the straight left once Schofield has committed his feet. If Schofield finishes a combination directly in front of him, Valenzuela will have a chance to answer before the champion gets back to punching range.

Schofield can make those counters harder to time by changing how much he commits on each entry. A quick jab to the chest can score and make Valenzuela show how he plans to respond. A feint can draw the left hand early and give Schofield an opening to step in behind it. Those small decisions could let him dictate the pace without having to throw a full combination every time he gets close.

Valenzuela has a decision to make about how much ground he can afford to give away. If he waits too long for a clean counter, Schofield can touch him with single shots and move off before the left hand comes back. Valenzuela’s best stretches could come when he makes Schofield lead, catches him at the end of an attack and then steps forward before the champion can start again. Landing that left early would give Schofield something to think about on every entry that follows.

The WBA cited Rule C.11, which requires the champion to face the official challenger designated by the organization. It also cited Rule C.12, which limits whom a champion can face in the 60 days before the mandatory defense period expires. The December 11 deadline applies to negotiations, giving the camps a month to settle terms before the committee can move to a purse bid.

Schofield’s first mandatory will test how much he can get done with his speed when the other man is waiting for him to commit. He can win stretches of the fight by getting in first. If Valenzuela can regularly land the last clean punch in those sequences, Schofield may have to spend more of the fight making the challenger come to him.