Raymond Ford 15-0-1, (8 KOs) received the WBA featherweight title tonight, and needed to do it in probably the most dramatics of fashions because it appeared the battle was slipping away from him down the stretch.
Ford received off to a little bit of a gradual begin, with Otabek Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KO) taking the primary 4 rounds on my unofficial scorecard. Ford, nevertheless, made a vital adjustment and within the fifth spherical he beginning strolling down Kholmatov and making him be the one to step backwards and in doing so was capable of mount some good offense.
That strategy received Ford the subsequent 4 rounds for me, bringing the battle even by means of eight. Ford’s momentum appeared to have waned at that time although, as Kholmatov began getting a second wind and received some later rounds to the place Ford actually wanted a stoppage to win the battle based mostly upon the official judges scorecards, to not point out struggling a reduce on his cheekbone from an unintentional conflict of heads.
Heading into the ultimate spherical Kholmatov was up sufficient on factors to solely actually need to expire the clock, and he roughly tried to take action till Ford landed the one large shot in remaining minute inflicting Kholmatov to stumble, bounce of the ropes and hit the canvas after falling right into a clinch.
The referee deemed {that a} slip, nevertheless, however Ford instantly jumped on his and landed one other large shot that had Kholmatov almost flip his again on the battle earlier than Ford adopted up with a flurry that compelled the referee to cease the match with solely seven seconds left on the clock.
An emotional Ford stated within the post-fight interview that he’s already contemplating a transfer up in weight after profitable this world title, given how troublesome it was for him to make weight for this match.
Kholmatov vs Ford highlights
Luis Alberto Lopez TKO-8 Reiya Abe
Luis Alberto Lopez (30-2, 17 KO) dealt with his enterprise tonight on ESPN+, aided by an early left hook the place a thumb would catch the appropriate eye of Reiya Abe (25-4-1, 10 KO), inflicting it to nearly instantly swell shut. With Abe on the defensive, Lopez confirmed no respect for any of the punches coming again at him, and frequently stalked Abe over eight rounds, strafing Abe with energy photographs alongside the best way till an eighth spherical flurry compelled the referee to cease the battle on the 0:39 minute mark.
