Floyd Schofield Wants Gervonta Davis for the WBA Lightweight Belt

Floyd Schofield has the WBA lightweight title around his waist and only one name on his mind. The 23-year-old unbeaten American lifted the vacant belt Saturday at Chicago's Wintrust Arena, outpointing fellow unbeaten Lucas Bahdi over 12 rounds — 116-110, 119-108 and 115-111 on the cards. Minutes later, his promoter Oscar De La Hoya was already pitching a fight with Gervonta Davis.

That's not an arbitrary call-out. Davis was stripped of this exact title earlier in 2026 and re-designated 'champion-in-recess,' a status that hands him first crack at the full belt whenever he returns — which is expected in early 2027. Tank sits at 30-0-1 with 28 knockouts and is ranked #3 at lightweight; Schofield is 19-0 with 13 KOs and comes in at #7. De La Hoya, asked about the matchup by Fight Hub TV, said plainly that if Davis wants his old strap back, he's happy to make it.

The Catch

The decision belongs entirely to Davis. Because Schofield won the belt while it was vacant, the WBA won't permit him a voluntary defense — his first title fight has to be against the mandatory. If Tank confirms interest, he becomes that mandatory and the fight is essentially forced. If he passes, the chair doesn't stay empty.

Next in line is former WBA super-lightweight champion Jose 'El Rayo' Valenzuela, the highest-ranked available contender. So Schofield gets a marquee defense either way; the only question is whether it's a superstar or a solid veteran.

Will Tank Bite?

Here's the complication for anyone hoping for Davis-Schofield: Tank has other options floating around. Comeback-bout rumors have linked him to George Kambosos and to Stephen Fulton, the 23-2 former featherweight titlist who's coming off a decision loss to O'Shaquie Foster. Any of those routes could pull Davis away from the WBA belt entirely.

Davis hasn't fought since his majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr., a result that still reads oddly next to his otherwise spotless ledger. Schofield, meanwhile, blitzed Tevin Farmer in one round in a prior outing and now has a title to build around at 23. The pieces for a genuine lightweight showdown are on the table. All it takes is Tank saying yes.