A bizarre accusation of poisoning has emerged in the wake of a high-profile fight cancellation, adding controversy to one of boxing’s biggest ever events.
Dmitry Bivol will take on Artur Beterbiev for all the marbles of the light-heavyweight division.
In their first encounter, Beterbiev won a razor-thin decision against Bivol, who became the first man to hear the final bell against the Russian knock-out artist.
Bivol has shared the key to victory against Beterbiev, and is seeking redemption for the first fight this Saturday.
Also on the card, Joseph Parker makes his bid to become a two-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois, after winning his first world title in 2016 against Andy Ruiz, before losing it to Anthony Joshua.
The only man to defeat Parker and Dubois, Joe Joyce, has made his predictions on who will win.
The card has been hailed as the best in boxing, with Callum Smith taking on Joshua Buatsi, Zhilei Zhang facing Agit Kabayel, and Hamzah Sheeraz targeting a world title against Carlos Adames.
One fight however, has now been cancelled from the card.
Floyd Schofield accuses Shakur Stevenson of poisoning
Shakur Stevenson’s opponent, Floyd Schofield, did not turn up at the grand arrivals and has now withdrawn from his fight against Stevenson.
Schofield was hospitalised after coming down with an illness of some kind, potentially related to an effort to make weight.
His father, however, fired shots at Stevenson, suggesting they poisoned his son:
This is a bold accusation, and one Stevenson has denied, suggesting: “They like to come up with all kinds of crazy stuff”.
Stevenson believes Schofield’s withdrawal is instead down to “weight problems” and he sees his opponent’s withdrawal as “a slap in the face” after allowing Schofield to face him.
‼️ Shakur Stevenson breaks his silence in an exclusive interview with The Ring and says he is highly sceptical of Floyd Schofield's illness: “They like to come up with all types of crazy stuff.” pic.twitter.com/JxfX2lzqrI
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) February 19, 2025
Shakur Stevenson will now face Josh Padley
With the original fight scrapped, Shakur will now face 15-0 Josh Padley, who recently secured a victory over Mark Chamberlain. Padley, an undefeated contender, balances his boxing career with his day job as an electrician, making his sudden shot at the big stage even more remarkable.
The undefeated records of both fighters—Schofield at 18-0 and Shakur at 22-0—only heighten the stakes should the fight be rescheduled.
With tensions running high, fans will now wait to see if the fight is rearranged or if the controversy marks the end of their potential clash.
