Newly crowned WBA world featherweight champion Raymond Ford may already have his next plans set after he came from behind to stop Otabek Kholmatov in the 12th round, just seven seconds before the final bell.
The American was down on two judges’ scorecards, but then pulled a rabbit out the hat to become Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn’s first state-side world champion that he has guided all the way from his debut.
Moments before his sensational Saturday night stoppage on ESPN, Ford was told by his coach to “Bring that dog out” – and that’s exactly what he did.
The 24-year-old dropped Kholmatov following a hellacious onslaught in the 12th and, despite the referee’s questionable decision to rule it a no-knockdown, Ford refused to take his foot off the gas, forcing the referee to jump in once the Uzbek turned his back.
Immediately after his decisive victory at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, New York, Ford stated that he may vacate his belt and move up to 130 lbs, but Hearn has other plans and is keen to match him against Liverpudlian Nick Ball in a potential unification.
Ball faces Mexican champion Ray Vargas for the WBC strap on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou, taking place next Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
If the unbeaten Brit comes through his test, the lure of a unification may be too much for Ford to ignore.
However, after expressing an interest in moving up to super featherweight, it is equally as likely that he may look to consider other opponents.
Welsh champion Joe Cordina – who defends his IBF title against Anthony Cacace on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, May 18 – is an obvious option up at 130 lbs, as a clash against Ford would make for an intriguing in-house dustup on DAZN.