Raymond Ford turned the World Boxing Affiliation (WBA) featherweight champion of the world after defeating Otabek Kholmatov by technical knockout within the twelfth spherical on Saturday night time throughout top-of-the-line fights of the yr to this point.
The American was the star of the occasion held on the Turning Stone Resort & On line casino in Verona, New York. Ford made an important struggle that led him to cease the Uzbek with solely 7 seconds left within the struggle and take the victory that made him monarch.
The technical knockout was essential, because the scorecards have been 105-104, 103-106 and 103-106 on the time, which might have given the victory to Kholmatov if the struggle had gone to the tip.
Ford discovered himself struggling, particularly firstly of the struggle when he obtained good combos from his opponent and couldn’t get the gap. Nevertheless, he step by step discovered his means and began boxing ahead, transferring his physique to keep away from assaults and throwing arduous punches that always managed to place Kholmatov in bother.
Ford’s braveness led him to take command of the struggle on many events. His hand pace was key to successful in a number of exchanges and his staff’s motivation was greater than evident each time he went to the nook. Ultimately he managed to attach an important mixture that put Kholmatov in dangerous situations and within the face of the punishment and the no response from the Uzbek, the referee determined to cease the struggle.
Ford gained his first world title and reached 15 wins, whereas he has 1 draw and eight knockouts. On his half, Kholmatov misplaced his unbeaten document and now has 12 wins, 1 loss and 11 knockouts.
