Floyd Schofield Sr., the trainer and father of lightweight contender Floyd Schofield Jr., has claimed that Albert Bell was “robbed” during his world title defeat against Abdullah Mason this past weekend. In a series of comments posted to social media on July 5, 2026, the veteran trainer credited Albert Bell for his performance in Cleveland, Ohio, despite the official result being a 12th-round stoppage victory for the champion.
The WBO lightweight championship bout, held at the Rocket Arena on July 4, 2026, saw Abdullah Mason retain his title after a late surge that featured two knockdowns of the challenger. Albert Bell had entered the fight as a replacement for Joe Cordina, who was unable to travel to the United States due to visa issues. Despite the official TKO finish, Floyd Schofield Sr. explicitly blamed “boxing politics” for the outcome, asserting that the fight was “rigged” and that Albert Bell should have been awarded the win on the scorecards.
“The fact that you turned around and won that title — because you was winning that, no matter how much they was bullcrapping on the scorecards,” Floyd Schofield Sr. said in his address to Albert Bell. He went further in his criticism of the officiating, stating that the referee involved in the stoppage “should never work again.”
Floyd Schofield Sr. disputes Abdullah Mason victory
Floyd Schofield Sr. emphasized that Albert Bell deserved recognition for performing well under difficult circumstances. Prior to the clash with Abdullah Mason, Albert Bell had been out of the professional ring for nearly a year. The trainer noted that while Albert Bell is not known for significant power — entering the ring with a record of 28-0 and only nine knockouts — his technical display was enough to have won the fight in his eyes.
“We know they robbed you. We already know,” Floyd Schofield Sr. added, directly addressing the Toledo-based fighter. His comments reflect a deep skepticism of the official decision-making process during the event. This outspoken stance is not out of character for the trainer; Floyd Schofield Sr. has a history of making bold claims, including previous allegations against the team of Shakur Stevenson, which he later retracted.
By labeling the Cleveland result “rigged,” Floyd Schofield Sr. is injecting further friction into a highly competitive lightweight landscape. These public statements arrive as many in the boxing world continue to evaluate the emerging prime years of several young stars at 135 pounds.
Schofield camp rejects comparisons to Abdullah Mason
Beyond the immediate result of the title fight, Floyd Schofield Sr. used the opportunity to address ongoing comparisons between Abdullah Mason and his son, Floyd Schofield Jr., known to fans as “Kid Austin.” Both fighters are considered elite prospects in the division, but the elder Schofield was quick to dismiss the idea that the two are on the same level.
“And for those comparing Abdullah to Kid, y’all better stop playing with us,” the trainer warned. This defensive posture highlights the rivalry between the two camps as they navigate the rankings. Floyd Schofield Jr. currently holds a perfect record of 19-0 with 13 knockouts, maintaining a 68% knockout ratio that contrasts with Albert Bell’s more technical approach.
The Schofield camp remains focused on their own trajectory, especially as other fighters in the division seek to solidify their positions. Just as Rolando Romero was elevated recently in the WBA rankings, the pressure is on undefeated contenders to secure their own world title opportunities. “Kid Austin” has also been working toward a major shot, with the WBA recently ordering him to negotiate a fight against Lucas Bahdi for a vacant strap.
Champion Abdullah Mason dismisses finish controversy
In the aftermath of the July 4 stoppage, Abdullah Mason remained firm in his assessment of the fight’s conclusion. The champion rejected any suggestion that the 12th-round intervention by the referee was “fishy” or premature. Abdullah Mason pointed to the two knockdowns he scored in the final frame as evidence of his control over the contest.
When asked about the challenger’s condition following the second knockdown, Abdullah Mason expressed total confidence in the outcome. “It was early in the round, so I had a lot more coming,” the champion told reporters. “Even if he got back up, I definitely would have had more to put him down again.”
This clinical view of the finish stands in stark contrast to the claims from Floyd Schofield Sr. while Abdullah Mason looks toward future defenses, Floyd Schofield Jr. is preparing to return to action.
The young prospect has been out of the ring for a full year, following a first-round stoppage win over Tevin Farmer on June 28, 2025. As these young lightweights continue to climb the rankings, the tension between the camps suggests that a future meeting would carry significant personal stakes. com/vincenzo-gualtieri-vs-amari-jones-ibf-eliminator-details/”>Gualtieri and Jones match, recognize that these verbal exchanges often serve as the prelude to major negotiations in the division.
