After beating Lucas Bahdi by unanimous decision to become WBA lightweight champion, his promoter Oscar De La Hoya called for Schofield to partake in a unification bout next. Schofield’s victory headlined a Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions card at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, live on DAZN.

Abdullah Mason (21-0, 18 KOs), The Ring’s No. 4-ranked lightweight, holds the WBO title, while Schofield’s promotional stablemate, William Zepeda, is the WBC champion. Zepeda (34-1, 27 KOs) was ordered by the WBC on October 1 to face interim titleholder Jadier Herrera next. The bout will go to a purse bid on October 20 if the two sides fail to reach a deal beforehand.

The IBF lightweight title is vacant after Raymond Muratalla decided to move up to 140 pounds following his unanimous decision victory over Robson Conceicao on August 1. Andy Cruz and Artur Subkhankulov have been ordered to clash for the vacant belt.

“We have another world champion in “Kid Austin,” so we're excited,” De La Hoya said in Schofield’s post-fight interview. “We're excited to unify the world titles with anybody.”

Schofield (20-0, 13 KOs), The Ring’s No. 7-ranked lightweight, largely controlled the bout against Bahdi (20-1, 15 KOs). The Austin, Texas native's movement largely offset Bahdi’s offense and ability to let his hands go. When Schofield engaged, he landed clean shots that stopped the Canadian in his tracks.

Schofield, 24, appeared to hurt Bahdi on numerous occasions in the third round, landing a left hook that sent his opponent falling into the ropes, with referee Benjamin Rodriguez ruling the sequence a knockdown.

Schofield’s crowning moment wasn't without some adversity. Bahdi, The Ring’s No. 8-ranked lightweight, connected with a series of power shots in the sixth round, and in the 11th round, the 32-year-old scored put his man down with a right hand.

Judge Alfredo Gallardo egregiously scored the fight as wide as 119-108 for Schofield, while Dave DeJonge had it 116-110 and Steve Weisfeld put in a 115-111 card.

“I thought he fought perfectly,” De La Hoya said. “He was a strong puncher. I believe that Bahdi is a hard puncher. “Kid Austin” told me in the sixth round it was where he hit him to the body, he felt the rib probably cracked. Bahdi will be back stronger than ever. Both fighters will grow [and] become better."