Barry McGuigan, the former world featherweight champion, didn't hold back his thoughts on the situation. In an interview with talkSPORT, McGuigan said:
"It's interesting, there's a number of things that could have happened but the first thing I think about when I hear a situation like that, I'm not denying that the kid's not well but you think 'oh he's swallowed, he's bottled it'."
McGuigan, now 63, went on to explain his reasoning:
"That's what you think and of course I don't know what his medical condition is but that was my initial thoughts. I think he swallowed it, I genuinely think he bottled it. I'm not saying he's not unwell, he could be, but I just feel like the whole situation has come down on him and he's in a really tough fight on a huge bill and he's under a lot of pressure and he might have wanted out. It wouldn't at all surprise me if that was the case."
The Irish boxing legend knows a thing or two about big fights. He captured the WBA featherweight title in 1985, outpointing Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road Stadium in London. After hanging up his gloves, McGuigan became a respected trainer and manager, working with two-weight world champion Carl Frampton for most of his pro career.
The show must go on, and a replacement has been found for Schofield. Josh Padley, an unbeaten 29-year-old British fighter, will step in to face Stevenson. Padley's most notable win came against highly-rated Mark Chamberlain at Wembley Stadium last September.
Stevenson, the WBC lightweight champion, hasn't taken kindly to Schofield's withdrawal. The fight was set to be the co-main event on a card headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.