Schofield was set to challenge Shakur Stevenson in February 2025 before withdrawing during fight week. The 23-year-old returned four months later, stopping Tevin Farmer in the opening round to take his record to 19-0 with 13 stoppages.
Bahdi, 32, forced his way into contention through a far tougher route. His sixth-round finish of Ashton Sylve in July 2024 transformed his career, securing him a multi-bout deal with MVP. The Canadian has since defeated Armando Casamonica, Ryan James Racaza, and former WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez, moving his ledger to 20-0 with 15 knockouts.
Schofield possesses superior hand speed, but Bahdi represents a genuine hurdle that cannot be dismissed as routine matchmaking. The Ontario native carries heavy physical strength, staying composed under fire with dangerous finishing power. Sylve controlled most of their rounds before Bahdi caught him with a crushing left-right sequence in the sixth.
That punch will demand strict discipline from Schofield. The younger prospect has occasionally leaned too heavily on raw athleticism, creating defensive lapses during exchanges. Rene Tellez Giron capitalized on those openings to drop him during their 2024 meeting.
Bahdi is unlikely to outbox Schofield in a pure speed contest, but he does not require round-by-round volume. He simply needs to stay within range to capitalize whenever Schofield overextends or retreats with his chin exposed.
The WBA placed Gervonta Davis in its “champion in recess” category in June after determining that pending legal matters could prevent him from fulfilling mandatory duties. The sanctioning body then ordered Schofield and Bahdi to battle for the vacant crown.
The winner will emerge as the WBA’s full titleholder at lightweight, setting up a potential consolidation match with Davis whenever the sanctioning body returns him to active status.
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