Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela wants the WBA to put him next in line for Floyd Schofield’s lightweight title, potentially complicating the new champion’s unification plans before his first defense is arranged.
“Let’s make it happen,” Rayo wrote on X, tagging the WBA in response to a post arguing that Schofield must first face a mandatory or leading available contender after winning the vacant belt.
Schofield defeated Lucas Bahdi in Chicago on Saturday to become champion. Oscar De La Hoya has discussed unifications, but Rayo is asking the sanctioning body to consider its own ranked contenders before moving forward with those plans.
The WBA’s September rankings listed Schofield first, Bahdi second, and Rayo third. With Schofield now champion and Bahdi coming off the defeat, Rayo has a credible case for consideration. His position does not automatically establish him as the mandatory challenger.
Rayo, 27, holds a 16-3 record with 10 knockouts and is coming off a second-round knockout win over Edwin De Los Santos on June 28. Some fans criticized the finish, believing he hit De Los Santos while he was down and arguing for a no contest or disqualification. The official result remains a knockout victory.
There is also a promotional and broadcast hurdle. Rayo fights for Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+, while Schofield is promoted by Golden Boy, whose events air on DAZN. Making the fight would require the promoters to agree on terms and a broadcast arrangement.
A WBA order could push those discussions forward, but it would not decide which platform carries the event or how the revenue is divided.
The post Rayo shared also overstated the vacant-title rule. The WBA rules version amended through April 2024 requires a non-heavyweight vacant-title winner to make his initial defense within 120 days. That provision does not itself say every voluntary defense is prohibited.
Golden Boy therefore cannot treat Rayo’s request as an official order, but neither can it assume Schofield has an unrestricted choice of opponents. Rayo has publicly asked for the opportunity. The WBA’s response will determine whether that request becomes an obligation.