Raymond Ford fights for a title in April
Raymond Ford will face Thomas Mattice for the WBA Continental North America Super-Featherweight title at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday April 12, live worldwide on DAZN, completing the undercard line-up for the blockbuster Welterweight unification clash between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis.
Ford (16-1-1 8 KOs) fights at 130lbs for the second time after moving up from Featherweight in November and routing Orlando Gonzalez over 10 rounds in Philadelphia. ‘Savage’ won the WBA World title at 126lbs with a stunning last gasp KO win over Otabek Kholmatov in March in Verona, NY and was edged out in his first defence by a razor-thin split decision reversal against Nick Ball in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in June.
Ford sits pretty in the rankings across all the governing bodies and will be eyeing that second World title shot in the back end of the year, but Mattice will see that as a carrot dangled for him, and ‘Gunna Man’ will relish the chance to upset Ford’s plans.
Mattice (22-4-1 17 KOs) boxes on his fourth Matchroom card having landed wins over Christian Tapia at home in Cleveland in November 2022 and Ramiro Cesena in San Antonio a year later, and last time out in Hermosillo, Mexico in September his clash with Eduardo Hernandez was warming up nicely before an accidental head clash ended matters after six round and Hernandez was awarded a technical decision.
“I’m excited to fight in Atlantic City, it’s pretty much a home fight for me so I’m going to do what I do best and put on a show,” said Ford. “I know a lot of guys turned me down and it’s been hard to get someone to take the fight. Credit to Mattice for stepping up but there’s nobody at 130 pounds getting in my way. I’m coming for all the champions, and they can’t keep running forever.”
“I’m super excited about the opportunity,” said Mattice. “I know buddy, but not personally but anyone that knows me, knows I’ll scrap with whoever whenever, it’s really easy with me. I’m looking forward to an action-packed fight with my hands being raised at the end #andthenew.”
Another addition to the card sees Arturo Cardenas defend his WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title against Christian Carto. Cardenas (15-0-1 8 KOs) puts his title on the line for the third time having picked up the strap last February in Oaxaca, Mexico and successfully defended it with wins in Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Carto (23-1 16 KOs) makes the short trip from his Philadelphia hometown to fight for his first title in his first ten round out in the paid ranks and appears on back-to-back Boots cards having picked up his 16th win inside the distance at Wells Fargo Center in July.
“A big thank you to my team at RGBA and Matchroom for putting me on a such a great card,” said Cardenas. “I’m really excited to show the fans in Atlantic City what I can do in the ring. Its going to be a great night of boxing and I plan on stealing the show”
“I’m looking forward to fighting in Atlantic City and proving my talent on DAZN,” said Carto. “I’m thankful to be fighting for a title and I’m ready for the opportunity!”
Ford vs. Mattice and Cardenas vs. Carto are the final additions to the undercard for Ennis vs. Stanionis in Atlantic City, with more stars announced on social media earlier this week.
Shakhram Giyasov will open the show live on DAZN over ten rounds against an opponent to be named soon as the Uzbek man waits for his shot at a World title, while the Before The Bell action sees three young tri-state talents in action as Atlantic City’s Francisco Rodriguez takes on Camden, New Jersey’s Naheem Parker over eight rounds at Lightweight, Philadelphia’s Tahmir Smalls takes on Washington DC’s Bermudan Earl Bascome over eight rounds at Welterweight and Newark, New Jersey’s Zaquin Moses takes on Alex Palette over four rounds at Super-Featherweight.
