Fighter of the Week (2/26-3/3): Raymond Ford
In a loaded week of prize fighting, one man's dramatic come-from-behind win set the boxing world abuzz. Raymond Ford scored a well-deserved but somewhat controversial buzzer-beater stoppage of Otabek Kholmatov to capture the WBA Featherweight title. The 24-year-old from Camden, New Jersey, picked up his first world titles, shook the memories of his disgrace of a decision win over Edward Vazquez back in 2022, and his draw to a journeyman by the name of Aaron Perez. He is now a 15-0-1 (8) world champion and our Fighter of the Week Award winner. It's been an intriguing rise to the top for the 24-Year-old.
Ford, a New Jersey native, stepped into the ring at the nearby Turning Stone Casino in New York, and things got off to a slow start with Otabek Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KO). Kholmatov of Uzbekistan appeared to take the first four rounds and seemed in complete control early. However, a determined Ford refused to go quietly into that good night, and in the fifth round, he began walking down Kholmatov. Forcing him backward. Ford began mustering some offense and started scoring in combinations as Ford began to even the fight up over the middle rounds. Kholmatov's second wind kicked in and seemed to secure the later rounds with his pressure and relentlessness on the inside, which seemed to put Ford in spot where he needed to close strong. Ford did just that. Heading into the final round. It was unclear exactly where the New Jerseyite stood, so he took matters into his own hands and delivered the one big shot in the final moments causing Kholmatov to buckle, stumble, and bounce off the ropes. After it was ruled a slip when the Uzbek fighter hit the canvas, it was a race against time for Ford, who immediately jumped on his wounded opponent and landed another big shot that spun Kholmatov 180 degrees. Ford followed up with a flurry that forced the referee to stop the scrap with only seven seconds left in the final round.
There are two intriguing options for the newly minted WBA Featherweight world champion. Allegedly, Hearn is flying Ford out to Riyadh to take in the Nick Ball and Rey Vargas showdown. In a perfect world, Hearn would match Ford with Ball for what would potentially be a unification bout. If Vargas should win the other option would be to run it back with Vazquez. Vazquez was robbed by a bogus decision that was awarded to Ford in 2022. A decision so bad, Ford's promoter said, "it's not easy to have to go back and tell your fighter he lost." However, Ford is in control now. The opinions of Ford varied greatly among boxing fans, pundits, and analysts. However, that's all immaterial now that the kid from Camden is a world champion and can sit in the catbird seat and pick his opponets.
