Raymond Ford became the new WBA featherweight champion in the most dramatic of circumstances, as he stopped Otabek Kholmatov with seconds remaining while behind on two scorecards to claim the vacant belt.
New Jersey-based Ford (15-0-1, 8 KOs) had been climbing the ranks coming into this showdown with Kholmatov, and was fresh off a career-best win in his most recent outing, where he thrashed Jesse Magdaleno on the scorecards over twelve rounds last April.
Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KOs) arrived at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona as a big puncher at the weight, with only one of his bouts to date going the distance.
The first round was the calm before the storm, with both trying to utilise their jabs, but the heavy-handed Kholmatov got into a groove, and a overhand left in the third seemed to wobble ford as the Uzbek displayed his power.
Ford did back Kholmatov up in round four, but he was met with a response to the body, and the fifth saw the pair slug it out, with Ford hunting his man down in the sixth.
π¦π§π’π£π£πππ ππ‘ π§ππ πππ‘ππ π¦πππ’π‘ππ¦ π±
Raymond Ford was down on the scorecards and forced a 12th round stoppage against Otabek Kholmatov to become world champion π³ pic.twitter.com/KC3UlKJJJC
β Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 3, 2024
Kholmatov was aggressive in his approach, and seemed to bank a fair few of the earlier rounds, but Ford rallied, and his jab seemed to trouble Kholmatov in the eighth, as well as a uppercut that landed flush.
The next two rounds were close ones, and Ford seemed to shade the penultimate frame despite a cut from a clash of heads, and as the fight went into the final frame, he was down 106-103 on two cards, and needed a stoppage. A left uppercut had Kholmatov wobbled, and he was bundled to the canvas, where no knockdown was ruled.
The damage had been done though, and Ford swung for the fences, and with Kholmatov tottering all around the ring, the referee jumped in with just seven seconds remaining.
The co-main event featured Luis Alberto Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) in action, and the Mexican pummelled Reiya Abe (25-4-1, 10 KOs) to an eighth round defeat. Lopez was dominant, and Abeβs eye showed significant damage from early on.
There were discussions to end the fight in the sixth, but it continued, and Lopez finally closed the show in the eighth, when a volley of spiteful punches forced the referee to pull Lopez away from Abe, and the contest was over.
π₯ Luis Alberto Lopez stops Reiya Abe in the eighth round to retain his IBF Featherweight title. #KholmatovFord pic.twitter.com/DnNPCZ1RKn
β EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) March 3, 2024
The sole ten rounder on the bill was ruled a no contest, as Janelson Figueroa Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs) was denied the WBO International welterweight title, ruled out in the third round against Brian Norman Jr (25-0, 19 KOs) due to sustaining multiple cuts. Norman was dropped in the opening round.
In eight rounders, Rohan Polanco (12-0, 7 KOs) dropped Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs) in the final round en route to a wide points win at welterweight, and at middleweight, Troy Isley 12-0, 5 KOs) stopped Marcos Hernandez (16-7-2, 3 KOs) in seven.
Polanco showing why he’s a prospect to watch π#KholmatovFord | LIVE on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/CyVheT6HL4
β Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 2, 2024
Floyd Diaz (11-0, 3 KOs) took a decision win against Edwin Rodriguez (12-8-2, 5 KOs) at bantamweight, and Brandon Moore (14-0, 8 KOs) took all eight rounds against Helaman Olguin (9-7-1, 4 KOs) at heavyweight.
In six round action, Nico Ali Walsh (9-1, 5 KOs) returned from defeat to take a points win against Luke Iannuccilli (7-1, 3 KOs) at middleweight, and Bryce Mills (15-1, 5 KOs) did the same against Gerffred Ngayoy (6-2, 5 KOs) at super lightweight.
