‘Kid Austin’ making a new name for himself
They call him “Kid Austin,” but Floyd Schofield Jr. may need to change his nickname if he continues to reside in San Antonio — and rack up impressive wins.
Just 21, the Jersey City, N.J., native relocated to the Alamo City three years ago, sharpening his skills and building an undefeated resume (16-0, 12 KOS) that since the move includes seven of 10 victories by knockout in the lightweight division.
Ranked No. 4 in the world by the WBA, Schofield recently signed a contract with one of the richest promotional companies in the sport, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Any current list of the top pros in San Antonio — Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Mario Barrios and Ramon Cardenas — will have to include Schofield before long. If not now.
“I want to fight all the big names,” Schofield said, mentioning lightweight stars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Shakur Stevenson as possible future opponents. “I feel like I’m ready to prove myself.”
Schofield’s team, however, is preaching patience. With just 16 pro bouts and 60 rounds under his belt, Schofield is scheduled to fight Esteuri Suero (13-1, 10 KOS), a fighter out of the Dominican Republic on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
The 10-round bout is the co-main event on a card headlined by William Zepeda taking on Maxi Hughes in a 10round IF and WBA world title lightweight eliminator (7 p.m., DAZN).
If all goes well Saturday, Schofield’s manager, Michael Miller, who
helped build “Jesse” James Leija into a world champion, would like to get Schofield a world title fight “in the next 12-15 months.”
“Oscar thinks he’s the complete package,” Miller said, describing Schofield as a disciplined, athletic 135-pounder with speed and power. “I see the same thing.”
Living in Austin at the time, Schofield burst upon the scene in 2020 after
more than 200 amateur fights and numerous national titles, winning his first five pro bouts by knockout inside of four rounds.
He’s trained by his father, Floyd Schofield Sr., who was granted custody of his son when Junior was 2 years old.
Since then, prior to coming to Texas, they have survived some of life’s hardest punches, from homelessness and living in their car to drugand roach-infested hotels.
That only adds to a backstory that has seen Schofield emerge confident and successful.
He lived in a gym run by Cameron Davies, a San Antonio businessman and food truck entrepreneur his first two years in the Alamo City. Today, Schofield and his father maintain a house in Austin but are currently living in a penthouse overlooking the River Walk, a far cry from the homelessness they experienced in New Jersey.
While Schofield is content, for the most part, to staying patient and waiting for his opportunity, it’s not always easy.
According to the father, Schofield has trained with Stevenson and super lightweight champ Devin Haney, helping them get ready for fights, “and beat them up in sparring.”
“Tank Davis said he’ll never get in the ring with
Floyd,” the elder Schofield said. “If we’ve been in the ring with these champions, I don’t think any of these other guys are going to stop us now.”
Not surprisingly, the outspoken Schofield Sr. predicts his son will win by knockout Saturday night.
As for that nickname, Schofield Jr. said he’s gotten used to it now and kind of likes it, but concedes it’s got to go. After all, he’s not a kid anymore and he doesn’t live in Austin, at least for the time being.
“Plus, all the good nicknames are already gone,” the younger Schofield said. “I liked ‘The Truth’ but (Dallas star) Errol Spence already has that one.”
How about ‘The Champ’?
“Nah,” Floyd Schofield Sr. said of his son. “They’re going to be calling him that soon anyway. He’s going to own all the belts.”