Philippines, 19 Feb 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Built Ford Tough: Raymond Ford Wins Featherweight Crown With 12th-Round Miracle TKO

PhilBoxing.com





VERONA, N,Y. (March 2, 2024) — Raymond “Savage” Ford (15-0-1, 8 KOs) captured the WBA featherweight world title with a dramatic, come-from-behind 12th-round TKO win against Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KOs).

Trailing on two of three scorecards, Ford dug deep to secure his first world title in the final round, as Kholmatov was ahead with two scores of 106-103, while one judge had it 105-104 for the native of Camden, New Jersey.

Kholmatov started off strong, pressuring and hurting Ford with a left hand in the second round. Ford then began to change the dynamic by pressuring the power puncher, using his high guard to stand in front of Kholmatov to land his offense.

By the seventh round, both men were going toe-to-toe in the center of the ring. Kholmatov fought on the outside in the later rounds, but he was hurt by Ford in the final stanza. Ford quickly capitalized and landed a flurry. Referee Charlie Fitch waved off the contest at 2:53 as Kholmatov staggered into the ropes.

Ford said, “My coach told me to bring that dog out. We knew we were coming into their territory. This wasn’t under our promotion. But we had to dig deep. The whole time in the corner, I kept telling myself, ‘I’m going to stop him.’ I felt him breaking down as the rounds went on.

“I started off a little slow. I felt I didn’t really have the energy and the legs to be the sharper boxer I know I can be. That was due to a tough weight cut. So, this may be my last fight at 126. Then, we’ll go up to 130 and call out the champions there.

“I knew I had to stop him. The rounds were too close. I just had to bring that dog out that my coaches were talking about. I always knew I had it in me. I come from a rough background. There’s nothing that can stop me. Ever.”

Venado Crushes Abe in Round Eight
Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) successfully defended his IBF featherweight crown with an eighth-round TKO win over Japanese contender Reiya Abe (25-4-1, 10 KOs).

Abe struggled with Lopez’s offense as the Mexican warrior launched forward with power shots from odd angles. A left hand from Lopez caused Abe’s right eye to swell. The ringside physician allowed him to continue, as Lopez continued to march forward.

In the eighth round, inspired by the cheers from the crowd, Lopez initiated a flurry of quick strikes, which forced referee Mark Nelson to halt the action at :39.

Lopez said, "I turned and looked at my family, my baby, my wife and my mom and dad, and that was the key to my motivation. I knew I had to finish the fight.

"Abe was a warrior. He was able to continue with his eye shut. He continued fighting with a lot of heart. We know that Japanese fighters have a lot of heart. But I also have a lot of hunger to continue being a world champion, and I had to show that.

“Like I have been saying, it would be great for me to unify. But I would also like to have a fight at 130 pounds. If they put me in against the winner of Oscar Valdez and Liam Wilson, that would be stupendous.”

Welterweight: Brian Norman Jr. (25-0, 19 KOs) and Janelson Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs) fought to a no decision. Bocachica suffered a cut in the opening round. He landed a chopping counter right hand in the final seconds that dropped Norman, who himself was cut above his right eye in the second stanza. By round three, Bocachica’s cut prompted the referee to stop the fight at the end of the round.


Junior Welterweight: Hometown hero Bryce Mills (15-1, 5 KOs) defeated Gerffred Ngayot (6-2, 5 KOs) via six-round unanimous decision. An aggressive Mills fought at a high pace, which Ngayot had trouble keeping up with. Mills slowed down in the final two rounds, but landed more on a defensively-minded Ngayot. Scores: 58-57 and 60-54 2x.

Middleweight: U.S. Olympian Troy Isley (12-0, 5 KOs) made a statement in his second fight with new trainer Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre. Isley delivered a seventh-round TKO over Marcos Hernandez (16-7-2, 3 KOs). Isley battled rhythmically throughout the fight, easily mixing in offense and defense, before landing a right hand that dropped Hernandez and forced referee Mark Nelson to stop the fight at 1:30.

Bantamweight: Floyd Diaz (11-0, 3 KOs) tallied a unanimous points win against Puerto Rican veteran Edwin Rodriguez (12-8-2, 5 KOs). Diaz landed his counter right uppercut frequently on a game Rodriguez, whose spirited effort was subdued by Diaz's sharper counters. Scores: 78-74, 79-73 and 80-72.

Junior Welterweight: Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (12-0, 7 KOs) handed Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs) his first loss tonight, battering him from post to post en route to an eight-round unanimous decision. Zaina was crafty on the outside, but Polanco overwhelmed him with constant pressure and counterpunching, dropping him and nearly finishing the job in the final round. Scores: 78-72 and 79-71 2x.

Middleweight: Nico Ali Walsh (10-1, 5 KOs) defeated Charles Stanford (7-6, 4 KOs) via six-round unanimous decision. Scores: 59-55 and 60-54 2x. It marked the second straight win for the grandson of "The Greatest," who suffered his lone defeat last August.
Heavyweight: Brandon Moore (14-0, 8 KOs) remained unbeaten with a hard-earned unanimous points verdict against Helaman Olguin (9-7-1, 4 KOs). Scores: 80-72 3x.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Past Week in Action 18 February 2025: Davis KOs Berinchyk in 4; Zayas Stops Spomer in 9; Barbosa Edges Catterall
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • HERLAN, SOLEDAD, ZAMORA MAKE WEIGHT IN BRICO SANTIG’S HIGHLAND BOXING SHOWDOWN IN THAILAND!
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • ADLI, RUF, SIGURD MAKE WEIGHT; READY FOR HIGHLAND’S SPECTACULAR SHOW IN THAILAND!
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING IN FULL HD "RIYADH SEASON'S THE LAST CRESCENDO" ARTUR BETERBIEV vs. DMITRY BIVOL 2
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • Brothers on warpath
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • All Star Boxing Kicks off March 7th in Managua
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • World Boxing’s Executive Board approves six new applications from Kosovo, Syria, Hungary, Malawi, Estonia and Switzerland to take its membership to 78 countries
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • USA Boxing Announces 2025 Women’s Elite High Performance Team Roster
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • Avious Griffin For WBC Title Headlines Club Boxings return to NYC Thursday Night in Times Square.
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Canelo vs. Crawford: A Deep Dive into the Tactics, Strengths, and Potential Outcomes of the Mega-Fight
    By T. Chin-Te, , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Diosdado Posadas: Call me Speedy
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Sadam Ali/World Kid Promotions’ “The Return” Postponed
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • FAELDONIA CHESS TEAM DOMINATES SIBUYAN OPEN TOURNAMENT
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Dutch Boxing Federation accepted as IBA provisional member
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of undefeated prospect VeShawn Champion
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • VIC MANUEL, MIKE TOLOMIA LEAD VALIENTES PAST BENILDE IN SIBUGAY INVITATIONAL
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • IM Chito Danilo Garma rules 5th AQ Prime Standard Open chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 17 Feb 2025
  • Ryan Clark defeats Ross Rodriguez in Old-fashioned barnburner fight
    , Mon, 17 Feb 2025
  • Vince Paras Secures Impressive TKO Victory in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Concio unbeaten for IIEE Quezon to advance to Finals of PTC-WED
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • OSCAR "LA MIGRAÑA" DUARTE HANDS MIGUEL "EXPLOSIVO" MADUEÑO HIS FIRST CAREER KNOCKOUT LOSS TO CLAIM WBA CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • US Olympics Silver Medalist Nabs Pro "Gold"; Keyshawn Davis Wins WBO Crown by Knockout
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Roy Jones Jnr and Israil Madrimov Break Down Canelo-Crawford Fight
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • April 5: Heavyweight Titans Richard Torrez Jr. & Guido Vianello to Collide at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas LIVE on ESPN+
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Cleveland, OKC Keep Lead But Old Vets Dominate All Stars Squads
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.