Floyd Schofield defeated Lucas Bahdi in a dramatic slugfest to win the vacant WBA lightweight title. 

Undefeated boxing prospects Schofield and Bahdi faced off this past Saturday, Oct. 10, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The vacant WBA Lightweight World Championship was on the line, marking the first world title opportunity for either fighter. Both fighters touched the canvas in a fight that received a standing ovation from the crowd at the final bell. 

From the opening bell, both fighters came out aggressively: hands high, chins tucked and right hands loaded, ready to fire. 

The first two rounds were very competitive, but in the third, Schofield’s power shook the 32-year-old. 

After exiting a clinch, Schofield unleashed a huge right hook that caught Bahdi off guard. Schofield pressured Bahdi into the neutral corner and hunted for the finish. 

Bahdi survived, and it seemed like the onslaught was over. 

After Bahdi lunged into range with an overhand right, Schofield timed him with a check left hook that nearly sent Bahdi through the ropes. The referee intervened and ruled the exchange a knockdown. 

The two continued squaring off for the next two rounds with both fighters feeling each other’s power on multiple occasions. 

By the sixth round, it was clear neither fighter was going to let up as Bahdi repeatedly caught Schofield off guard. 

Schofield struggled defending Bahdi's right hand. One in particular buckled Schofield's legs. 

Schofield was squared up against the ropes, and Bahdi timed him perfectly with an overhand right straight on the tip of the chin. The 24-year-old’s legs stiffened, and he nearly took a knee. 

Schofield bided his time and, in the last 10 seconds, responded with his own right hand to shake up Bahdi. 

In a nightmarish round, Schofield still was able to find success and force Bahdi to respect him.

The next four rounds were also competitive, but Schofield controlled Bahdi for the most part. 

In the ninth round, Bahdi connected with an overhand right that sent Schofield to a knee. The referee misjudged the exchange and didn’t intervene. 

The punch landed cleanly on Schofield’s temple and briefly sent him to his knees, yet the knockdown wasn’t called. 

This 10-8 round, unawarded to Bahdi, was later made up on another missed call, this time in favor of Bahdi in the 11th round. 

Bahdi set up his overhand right again, but it missed, and his and Schofield’s feet got caught up. Schofield fell to the canvas, and the referee ruled this slip a knockdown. 

Bahdi stepped on Schofield's foot and never landed a clean punch in the exchange, yet the referee's call guaranteed a 10-8 round for Bahdi in the 11th. 

Despite benefiting from the ruling and landing many power shots throughout the fight, the younger Schofield still won the majority of the rounds with his effective lateral movement and occasional stance switching. 

The 12th round was do-or-die for Bahdi, needing the knockout or multiple knockdowns to seal the victory. 

Schofield just needed to cruise and win the round intelligently. He did exactly that. The final bell rang, and both fighters went back to their corners confidently. 

The final scorecards read 116-110, 119-108 and 115-111. All in favor of Schofield. 

Schofield took Bahdi's undefeated record, improving to 20-0 and winning the first world title of his career. 

Looking ahead, now holding one of the four world titles in the lightweight division, Schofield could face champions William Zepeda and Abdullah Mason in unification bouts. 

As for Bahdi, he looks to regroup. Though not confirmed, a rematch with Ashton “H20” Sylve could be on the table as a potential bounce-back fight.

Schofield vs. Bahdi was undoubtedly the biggest fight of either fighter's career. The victory for Schofield marked his first world title win and another step towards a promising future in the years to come.