It’s a featherweight world title doubleheader at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona this Saturday, and the nominal main event sees the super talented Raymond Ford vie for the vacant WBA featherweight title against Otabek Kholmatov.
Top Rank promote Kholmatov vs Ford, and the card can be seen on Sky Sports in the UK, and ESPN in the USA.
Ford (14-0-1, 7 KOs) has won six on the spin since an eight round draw with Aaron Perez in March 2021, and has steadily climbed the ranks into world title contention.
The New Jersey ‘Savage’ went the championship distance for the first time in his career last time out, as he dropped Jessie Magdaleno twice on the way to a clear points win.
It’s Uzbekistan’s Kholmatov (12-0, 11 KOs) up next for Ford, a real danger man that carries plenty of power. 2023 saw Kholmatov ruin the unbeaten record of Thomas Patrick Ward, halting the Englishman in Newcastle in five rounds, and he followed that up with an eighth round stoppage of Balam Hernandez Acosta in Mexico in December.
Raymond Ford scores the knockdown in the 4th 💪#RodriguezGonzalez | @raysavage856 pic.twitter.com/JRvpbwiEsv
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) April 9, 2023
Prediction: Ford will need to be on his game here, and if he can negotiate an early Kholmatov onslaught, I think he can become the new champion with a points win.
Abe hopes to continue recent Japanese success and upset Lopez
In the co-main event, Mexico’s Luis Alberto Lopez defends his IBF featherweight title for a third time, as he meets Japan’s Reiya Abe.
Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) came to wider prominence in 2021, knocking Isaac Lowe out in seven, and he then stunned Josh Warrington in Leeds to take the IBF crown in December 2022 via majority decision.
Lopez defended in Belfast, overwhelming Michael Conlan in five rounds last May, and less than four months later, he took a decision win in the USA against Joet Gonzalez.
Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs) is on a run of six straight wins since a points loss to Ryo Sagawa in 2019, but has never ventured outside of his homeland. He is coming off an impressive wide points win over old war horse Kiko Martinez in April last year.
Prediction: Lopez is maturing into a solid champion, and I can’t see Abe de-railing him here. Lopez can retain on the scorecards.
Norman Jr faces Bocachica
The sole ten rounder is at welterweight, and Brian Norman Jr (25-0, 19 KOs) can win inside the distance against Janelson Figueroa Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs).
Top Rank talent given opportunity to shine.
In eight round attractions, Rohan Polaco (11-0, 7 KOs) can stay unbeaten with a points win against Tarik Zaina (13-0-1, 8 KOs), and at middleweight, Troy Isley (11-0, 4 KOs) should do the same against Marcos Hernandez (16-6-2, 3 KOs).
Rohan Polanco made him regret that 🫢 pic.twitter.com/WhI0rYFpWJ
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 10, 2023
Bantamweight prospect Floyd Diaz (10-0, 3 KOs) should bank a points win against Edwin Rodriguez (12-7-2, 5 KOs), and heavyweight hope Brandon Moore (13-0, 8 KOs) can win inside schedule against Helaman Olguin (9-6-1, 4 KOs).
In six rounders, Bryce Mills (14-1, 5 KOs) can take a win on the cards against Gerffred Ngayot (6-1, 5 KOs) at super lightweight, and grandson of the legend, Nico Ali Walsh (8-1, 5 KOs) an return from defeat to outpoint Luke Iannuccilli (7-0, 3 KOs) at middleweight.
