WBA Orders Schofield to Face Valenzuela in First Mandatory Defense

Update, Nov. 12: The WBA, in a Nov. 11 ruling, has upheld Schofield's Oct. 10 win over Lucas Bahdi and denied MVP's request for an immediate rematch. Our follow-up is here.

The WBA has ordered Floyd Schofield to make his first mandatory lightweight title defense against Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela. The Championships Committee, citing Rule C.11, gave the parties 30 days to reach an agreement, from Nov. 11 through the close of business on Friday, Dec. 11, 2026 (UTC-5). If they do not, or if either side declines to negotiate or take part, the committee can call a purse bid. No date or venue was announced.

Schofield won the vacant WBA title on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, by unanimous decision over Lucas Bahdi at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, a result reported by the WBA and BoxingScene. He is 20-0 with 13 knockouts. Valenzuela, a southpaw, is 16-3 with 10 knockouts. He last fought in June, stopping Edwin De Los Santos in the second round on a Zuffa Boxing card.

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The WBA also cited Rule C.12, which, it said, restricts the champion from facing someone other than the official mandatory challenger or the next highest-ranked contender, as applicable, in the 60 days before the mandatory defense period expires.

Making the fight will mean a deal across promotions and networks. Schofield is with Golden Boy and has been appearing on DAZN; Valenzuela signed with Zuffa Boxing and has headlined on Paramount+. That is the practical hurdle in the 30-day window, not a reason the order itself is in doubt.

Before and after the Bahdi fight, Schofield's camp talked about other names. Schofield told The Ring he wanted William Zepeda next, "and if not Zepeda, then [Abdullah] Mason or Gary Antuanne Russell." After the title win, Oscar De La Hoya first pointed toward Mason, then, when pressed by DAZN's Chris Mannix, said a Zepeda unification would "happen," Boxing News 24 reported. None of those fights is signed, and today's order puts Valenzuela first.

This was a busy day at the WBA. Earlier, president Gilberto Mendoza reaffirmed that Teofimo Lopez must face Jack Catterall in a mandatory welterweight defense, with 10 days to agree or go to a purse bid. Once Schofield-Valenzuela has a date, you can log a pick in Fight Picker.