Ford to face super-featherweight champion.
In 2024, Raymond Ford fought Otabek Kholmatov for the vacant WBA featherweight title.
It was the first title shot for Ford, who was a well-regarded contender. In front of him, he had an unbeaten Uzbek who had gone the distance just once in 12 fights.
Ford and Kholmatov would fight at the type of pace that can only be produced by men who know that victory will make them a world champion, yet amidst the exchanges and furious action, it was Kholmatov who was getting the better of things.
But in the dying stages of the 12th round, while behind on two of the three cards, Ford would rock Kholmatov and chase him into a corner.
Beneath the cascade of punishment, Kholmatov would turn his back, and the fight was stopped with a mere 7 seconds to go.
Perhaps it could have been allowed to continue, but Kholmatov was sending out distress signals, and Ford’s last-round stoppage to win the title while behind in the fight is one of only a handful of such victories in boxing.
Nonetheless, Ford would lose his title to Liverpudlian buzzsaw Nick Ball in his next fight, a bout that saw Ford move up to super-featherweight.
Since his divisional hop, Ford has scored three victories, most notably (and most recently) over Abraham Nova, who was a late replacement for Anthony Cacace on the Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte undercard.
Now Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs) will face his biggest test at 130 pounds yet, as he takes on WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster (24-3, 12 KOs).
Foster suffered two early-career defeats, but has really found his groove at title level. An extremely controversial loss to Robson Conceicao aside (a result that was avenged), Foster has appeared perhaps the best fighter in his weight class since his upset win over Rey Vargas to win the title.
Foster also holds a win over Nova himself. Additionally, he also has authored a last-round stoppage while behind on the cards, taking out Eduardo Hernández with 22 seconds left to go in the fight while in serious jeopardy of losing his title.
Most recently, Foster won the WBC interim lightweight title by outboxing two-weight champion Stephen Fulton, but has chosen to keep his title at super-featherweight.
So, Foster vs. Ford sees a meeting of two men who have been known to produce last-minute heroics. Will any such thing be needed when they meet each other in the ring?
Find out when the two collide on the 30th of May at the Fertitta Centre in Houston, Texas, United States.
TIME TO SETTLE THE FEUD 😤
WBC World Super Featherweight Champion @OshaquieFoster and @raysavage856 will finally meet in the ring, May 30 🔥
Fireworks expected in Shock’s hometown of Houston where Ray also trains 👀 #FosterFord | @DAZNBoxing | @trboxing pic.twitter.com/tmTffgbX09
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 16, 2026
Want to get the latest boxing news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
