Raymond Ford (15-0-1, 8 KOs) turned the brand new WBA featherweight champion with a twelfth-round stoppage towards Otabek Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KOs)
The battle headlined an occasion on the Turning Stone Resort & On line casino in Verona, NY. Prime Rank promoted the cardboard that aired completely on ESPN+ in the USA. With the win, Ford turns into the most recent featherweight titlist.
Raymond Ford vs. Otabek Kholmatov: Dramatic Final-Spherical Stoppage
Raymond Ford Earns Late Stoppage Win
Many of the opening spherical noticed each fighters being tentative. The punches of notice within the first got here from Kholmatov. Early on, the Uzbek established himself because the extra highly effective fighter with a few pictures that buzzed Ford. Spherical 4 noticed “Savage” press ahead and have success of his personal.
It was this tactical change – that noticed Ford dominate a few of the center and late rounds. Kholmatov’s energy started to have much less impression with Ford pushing ahead. In consequence, the battle turned extra of a tactical affair.
Learn Extra: 5 Underrated Featherweights to Watch Out for in 2024
A headbutt brought about blood to pour beneath the attention of Ford within the eleventh spherical. Regardless of this, the American continued to push ahead in spherical 12 and was rewarded for it. A barrage of punches despatched Kholmatov to the ropes and Ford continued to throw till referee Charlie Fitch ended the battle on the 2:53 mark.
The stoppage proved to be essential. Kholmatov was forward with scores of 106-103 on two of the decide’s scorecards. The third decide had it 105-104 for Ford going into spherical 12.
IN THE FINAL MOMENTS OF ROUND 12.
RAYMOND FORD HAS THE HEART OF A CHAMPION. pic.twitter.com/FH3Xv6ru8B
— Prime Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 3, 2024
Submit-Combat Feedback
“I didn’t even hear him say ‘And New.’ I used to be simply so within the second. This can be a blessing.
“My coach instructed me to convey that canine out. We knew we had been coming into their territory. This wasn’t underneath our promotion. However we needed to dig deep. The entire time within the nook, I stored telling myself, ‘I’m going to cease him.’ I felt him breaking down because the rounds went on.
“I began off a bit gradual. I felt I didn’t actually have the power and the legs to be the sharper boxer I do know I could be. That was because of a tricky weight minimize. So, this can be my final battle at 126. Then, we’ll go as much as 130 and name out the champions there.
“I knew I needed to cease him. The rounds had been too shut. I simply needed to convey that canine out that my coaches had been speaking about. I all the time knew I had it in me. I come from a tough background. There’s nothing that may cease me. Ever.”
Remember to try our recap of Luis Alberto Lopez dominating towards Reiya Abe.
