Bahdi's Promoter Files Protest Over Schofield Loss

Most Valuable Promotions has filed a formal protest with the Illinois Athletic Board over Lucas Bahdi's unanimous decision loss to Floyd Schofield in their WBA lightweight title bout on October 10.

The promotion claims video footage reveals referee Benjamin Rodriguez missed knockdowns in rounds three, six, and nine at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. According to The Ring, MVP's statement argues that "the video evidence demonstrates multiple significant officiating errors that directly impacted the fight."

What MVP's Protest Claims About The Knockdowns

Schofield hit the canvas as the third round ended, but Rodriguez ruled no knockdown despite Bahdi landing a body shot before the bell. In the sixth, a Bahdi right hand wobbled Schofield roughly 30 seconds from the bell, and the ropes appeared to hold him upright moments later. Schofield went down with 23 seconds left in that frame, but Rodriguez called it a slip after the fighters became tangled. Another Bahdi right dropped Schofield in the ninth as his knee grazed the canvas, but the referee did not see it.

"Our review shows that had these knockdowns been properly ruled and scored, Lucas would have won the WBA lightweight world championship by majority decision," the MVP statement read, per The Ring's Keith Idec.

Judges scored the bout 116-110, 119-108, and 115-111 for Schofield, who improved to 20-0 with 13 knockouts. Bahdi dropped to 20-1. MVP has requested an immediate rematch and submitted its findings to the WBA, though only the Illinois board can overturn the result.

Source: ringmagazine.com