Chicago Title Fight Headlines Weekend Boxing, With More Action in Long Beach

It was bound to happen.

Jake Paul won’t be fighting Oscar De La Hoya, but each will have a rep this weekend in the city of Big Shoulders.

“We want to make sure boxing is here and stays alive in Chicago,” said Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions. “The whole world will be watching Chicago.”

Golden Boy’s Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) meets Most Valuable Promotions Luca Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) in a battle between undefeated lightweights for the WBA title on Saturday Oct. 10, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. The Golden Boy and MVP fight card will be streamed on DAZN.

It’s not far-fetched to think Paul would challenge De La Hoya in an exhibition bout. However, instead, the two promoters will send their proxies on Saturday to represent their respective firms.

“This is number one versus number two in the rankings,” said De La Hoya. “The best have to fight the best.”

MVP’s proxy is Bahdi, who was signed after he eliminated Paul’s best fighter at the time, Ashton “H20” Sylve, with a spectacular knockout two years ago. Subsequently, Bahdi signed with Paul’s company and is headed for a world title shot. He hits hard.

“The top two guys in the division are going to war. This is what it’s about and I’m ready,” said Canada’s Bahdi. “We’re fighting for the world title and I’m ready.”

Schofield is Golden Boy’s guy and he was supposed to meet Shakur Stevenson but was felled by an illness. He then fought veteran Tevin Farmer and eradicated him in less than one round. It was shocking and sudden.

Now the two undefeated lightweights are poised to see who exits the boxing ring with their undefeated status.

“I got a lot riding on this fight,” said Schofield. “I think Lucas Bahdi is a good fighter.”

MVP has become better known as a company with the greatest roster of female fighters in the world. Once upon a time, Golden Boy had some talented female fighters, but now they only have one in Gabriela Fundora. She will not be participating on this fight card.

Promoters talk a lot nowadays. De La Hoya has pointed out that boxing promoting is a cutthroat business, and that his fighter Schofield is the far better fighter.

Paul likes his fighter’s chances and foresees another Bahdi victory.

Also on the same boxing card, WBC flyweight titlist Ricardo Sandoval (27-2) makes his first defense of the title he won in Japan a year ago. He defends against Mexico’s Sergio Mendoza (27-1, 23 KOs) who lost an attempt to win the light flyweight title this past April.

“I’m very excited to still be fighting in Chicago and to have the opportunity to defend my titles for the first time,” said Sandoval.

Sandoval, who lives in Rialto, CA, traveled to Japan and upset Kenshiro Teraji by split decision back in July 2025. He is one of three Southern California based fighters holding a flyweight or super fly world title. A win could put him in a position to fight Anthony Olascuaga or maybe even bantam champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.

Anything is possible.

Also on the same fight card will be Costa Rica’s Naomy Valle, the younger sister of Yokasta Valle who formerly fought under the Golden Boy banner. Now both Valle sisters are signed with MVP.

Valle (15-1) lost her first fight under the MVP banner and will be fighting Sheyla Moreno (5-1-1) in a minimumweight fight set for eight rounds. Though she lost her debut with MVP a year ago, she then won her next fight which was last January.

Mike Leanardi, the matchmaker for MVP, said they don’t penalize fighters for taking big risks and losing. They want competitive fights. Yokasta Valle also lost her debut with MVP against Mexico’s Lourdes Juarez this past May.

Both Valle sisters are still with MVP.

 

Thunder Studios

Light heavyweights Samuel Arnold (16-0) and Charles Shinima (20-5) headline the Fight Book card on Saturday Oct. 10, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif.

Thunder Studios has become a key arena for boxing events in the Southern California area.

Also on the same card is popular boxer Jonny Mansour (8-0) against Colombia’s George Rodriguez (12-7) in a super lightweight match set for eight rounds.

Mansour has a large following from the San Diego area and recently fought in Detroit where he was victorious by knockout.

For more information go to ticketsexpress.net/dmg-boxing

 

Fights to Watch

Sat. YouTube/DMG Boxing 5 p.m. PT Samuel Arnold (16-0) vs Charles Shinima (20-5).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. PT Floyd Schofield (19-0) vs Lucas Bahdi (20-0), Ricardo Sandoval (27-2) cs Sergio Mendoza (27-1).

To comment on this article in the Fight Forum, please CLICK HERE