- The WBA Championships Committee has ordered champion Floyd Schofield to make a mandatory lightweight title defence against Jose Valenzuela
- Free negotiations run from 11 November to 11 December 2026, and the WBA can call a purse bid if no deal is done. The WBA has also upheld Schofield's win over Lucas Bahdi and refused an immediate rematch
- My view: Valenzuela's left hand makes this dangerous, but Schofield wins Schofield vs Valenzuela on points
Schofield vs Valenzuela: The Order
Right then, no easy first defence for Floyd Schofield. The WBA Championships Committee has ordered him to defend his lightweight title against Jose 'Rayo' Valenzuela, and Schofield vs Valenzuela is now officially a mandatory.
The two camps have from 11 November until close of business on 11 December to agree terms. If they cannot, or either side refuses to negotiate, the WBA can call a purse bid. In the meantime, Schofield cannot take a different fight against anyone other than the mandatory or the next-ranked man. No date or venue for Schofield vs Valenzuela yet.
The Bahdi Review
Schofield won the belt with a unanimous decision over Lucas Bahdi at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on 10 October. It was a controversial night, and Bahdi's team at Most Valuable Promotions asked for an immediate rematch. The WBA has said no. Its review found that Bahdi should have been credited with knockdowns in rounds six and nine, but the result stands.
Make no mistake, that is a messy way to win a belt, and it hangs over Schofield vs Valenzuela. Schofield knows he needs a cleaner, more convincing performance next time.
Who Is Valenzuela?
Valenzuela is 16-3 and a former world champion. He won the WBA super lightweight title with a split decision over Isaac Cruz in August 2024, then lost it on points in Brooklyn in March 2025. Since then he has rebuilt nicely, a ten-round decision win in February and then a brutal second-round knockout of Edwin De Los Santos in June.
The southpaw has real pop in that left hand, and dropping down to 135 could make him even more dangerous in Schofield vs Valenzuela if the weight is right.
Schofield vs Valenzuela Prediction
Let's not beat around the bush. This is a proper fight and a bad style match-up for a champion who got caught and put down against Bahdi. Valenzuela will have his moments, and I would not be surprised to see Schofield on the canvas again.
But Schofield is younger, quicker and busier, and over twelve rounds I think his work rate tells. My prediction for Schofield vs Valenzuela is Schofield on points, with at least one scary moment along the way. I expect the Schofield vs Valenzuela deal to be done before the purse bid too. Both sides want this fight.