Oscar De La Hoya agreed to a Floyd Schofield–William Zepeda unification after being pressed during DAZN’s post-fight interview, but his initial response suggested little enthusiasm for matching his two lightweight champions.
Schofield had just captured the vacant WBA title by defeating Lucas Bahdi when De La Hoya announced his interest in unifying. That invitation became less straightforward once Chris Mannix brought up Zepeda, Golden Boy’s WBC champion.
“We want to unify the titles against anybody,” said De La Hoya to DAZN.
Mannix asked whether Zepeda would be next. De La Hoya’s answer sent the conversation toward Abdullah Mason instead.
“Well, maybe it’s not the fight to do next, but let’s go with Mason or any world champion in the WBC. Whoever it is, ‘Kid Austin’ is ready,” said De La Hoya.
Mannix returned to the obvious option: “Zepeda has got that WBC world title. Let’s take that fight next.”
“We’ll make that fight happen then,” De La Hoya replied.
That was an agreement, although it came after De La Hoya had already suggested taking another route. There was no date announced or indication that either fighter had accepted the matchup.
The hesitation is understandable from a business perspective. Golden Boy now has two lightweight champions it can promote separately. Each can headline title fights, build his audience, and pursue opponents from other promotional companies. Putting them together guarantees that one leaves without his belt.
Mason is with Top Rank, making him a different proposition. Schofield could lose that fight too, but a victory would bring another title into Golden Boy while preserving Zepeda’s separate championship run. An in-house unification offers no such possibility.
That does not establish De La Hoya’s motive, but it explains why “anybody” might become less appealing when the opponent is another revenue stream within his own company.
For Schofield, Zepeda would also be a tough first defense. His sustained pressure and punch volume would test the new champion’s ability to keep control while being pushed backward.
Mannix secured a public promise. Whether Golden Boy turns it into Schofield’s next fight will show how far De La Hoya is prepared to take his unification pledge.
