March 2: Otabek Kholmatov vs Raymond Ford
The fight for the vacant WBA featherweight title between Otabek Kholmatov (12-0, 11KO) and Raymond Ford (14-0-1, 7KO) will be one of the most interesting fights this Saturday night, March 2, at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.
Two young and undefeated fighters will be competing for the black and gold belt in a fight that looks very evenly matched.
Kholmatov is ranked No. 1, while Ford is ranked No. 2 and both were ordered to fight each other once the belt was vacated by former champion Leigh Wood’s move up the division.
Uzbekistan’s Kholmatov is 25 and began his professional career in 2021 after winning a bronze medal at the Youth World Championships. He won his pro debut with a first-round knockout and has continued that trend of ending fights early, being taken the distance just once, by 14-0 Andranik Grogorian in 2022.
In his next fight, in March 2023, he secured his biggest victory yet, when he stopped unbeaten Thomas Patrick Ward in five rounds in Newcastle, England.
Ford, 24, is a New Jersey native, so he will be close enough to home for his championship fight. He has been able to overcome obstacles and win tough fights, which has given him experience. In his most recent fight he soundly defeated Jessie Magdaleno on the scorecards and that made him ready for this challenge.
Both fighters are southpaws, which will give a plus to this fight. Kholmatov has 12 wins, 11 by knockout, while Ford has 14 wins, 1 draw and 7 knockouts.
In the co-feature, Mexico’s Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez defends his IBF crown against Japanese upstart Reiya Abe, plus Nico Ali Walsh, Troy Isley, Brandon Moore, Bryce Mills undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. Click here for the full card