Photos: Raymond Ford TKO’s Otabek Kholmatov in 12th round to land title

Raymond Ford stops Otabek Kholmatov to become WBA featherweight champion

Raymond Ford walked away with the win against Otabek Kholmatov live on ESPN+ from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York on Saturday, March 2. The pair squared off in the main event bout with the vacant WBA featherweight title on the line.

The American contender took the victory by TKO and handed the previously unbeaten contender of Uzbekistan his first career defeat. Referee Referee Charlie Fitch stopped the fight at 2 minutes and 53 seconds into the 12th round.

Going into the final round, Kholmatov was ahead on two of the judges’ scorecards that read 106-103, 104-105 and 106-103.

Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov
Raymond Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Raymond Ford
Raymond Ford | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

In the co-feature, Luis Alberto Lopez of Mexico stopped Japanese contender Reiya Abe in the eighth round. With the victory he successfully retained his IBF featherweight title for the third time.

Luis Alberto Lopez vs Reiya Abe
Luis Alberto Lopez vs Reiya Abe | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Luis Alberto Lopez vs Reiya Abe
Luis Alberto Lopez vs Reiya Abe | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Luis Alberto Lopez
Luis Alberto Lopez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Luis Alberto Lopez
Luis Alberto Lopez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Luis Alberto Lopez
Luis Alberto Lopez team | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

On the undercard, the welterweight bout between Brian Norman Jr. and Janelson Figueroa Bocachica was ruled a no decision. The ringside doctor stopped the fight after the third round deeming Bocachica unable to continue due to a cut caused by an accidental clash of heads. In the first round the latter secured a knockdown with a straight right hand.

Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs Brian Norman Jr
Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs Brian Norman Jr | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Brian Norman Jr vs Janelson Figueroa Bocachica
Brian Norman Jr vs Janelson Figueroa Bocachica | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Brian Norman Jr vs Janelson Figueroa Bocachica
Brian Norman Jr vs Janelson Figueroa Bocachica | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Janelson Figueroa Bocachica
Janelson Figueroa Bocachica | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Bryce Mills defeated Gerffred Ngayot by unanimous decision after six rounds at junior welterweight. The scores were 58-56, 60-54 and 60-54.

Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot
Bryce Mills vs Gerffred Ngayot | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Bryce Mills
Bryce Mills | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Troy Isley stopped Marcos Hernandez with a one-two combo at middleweight. The official time was 1 minute and 30 seconds into the seventh round.

Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez
Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez
Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez
Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Floyd Diaz came out with the win by unanimous decision against Edwin Rodriguez at bantamweight. The scores were 79-73, 80-72, 78-74.

Floyd Diaz vs Edwin Rodriguez
Floyd Diaz vs Edwin Rodriguez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Floyd Diaz vs Edwin Rodriguez
Floyd Diaz vs Edwin Rodriguez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Floyd Diaz vs Edwin Rodriguez
Floyd Diaz vs Edwin Rodriguez | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Floyd Diaz
Floyd Diaz | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Rohan Polanco earned with the win by unanimous decision against Tarik Zaina at junior welterweight. The scores were 79-71, 79-71 and 78-72.

Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina
Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina
Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina
Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Rohan Polanco
Rohan Polanco | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Nico Ali Walsh claimed a unanimous decision against Charles Stanford at middleweight. The scores were 60-54, 60-54 and 59-55.

Nico Ali Walsh vs Charles Stanford
Nico Ali Walsh vs Charles Stanford | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Nico Ali Walsh vs Charles Stanford
Nico Ali Walsh vs Charles Stanford | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Nico Ali Walsh vs Charles Stanford
Nico Ali Walsh vs Charles Stanford | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Nico Ali Walsh
Nico Ali Walsh team | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Kicking off the action, Brandon Moore defeated Helaman Olguin by unanimous decision. After eight rounds at heavyweight all three scores were 80-72.

Brandon Moore vs Helaman Olguin
Brandon Moore vs Helaman Olguin | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Brandon Moore vs Helaman Olguin
Brandon Moore vs Helaman Olguin | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Brandon Moore vs Helaman Olguin
Brandon Moore vs Helaman Olguin | Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Brandon Moore
Brandon Moore | Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Get Kholmatov vs Ford full fight card results.

Parviz Iskenderov
Parviz Iskenderov is a former Muay Thai fighter, sports manager and editor at FIGHTMAG.

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