By Nigel Collins
IS there anything more dramatic in boxing than a fighter hopelessly behind the scorecards stopping his opponent in the closing seconds of a fight? It is a reversal of the mind, what is rising suddenly falls. Expectations are muddled and unless you bet a dollar or two on the underdog, it's an exhilarating experience, the joy of the unexpected.
Since September 13, 1950, the gold standard for such desperate feats has belonged to middleweight champion Jake LaMotta, who knocked out Frenchman Laurent Dauthuillelle with just 13 seconds left in the final round. That's rare but there have been other eventual wins. For example, Mike Weaver defeated John Tate in round 15 to win the WBA heavyweight title.
Raymond Ford was even closer to defeat than Dauthuille and Tate. There were just seven ticks on the stopwatch when Ford knocked out Otabek Kholmatov to win the vacant WBA featherweight title. It was a great back-and-forth battle that had the crowd at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York cheering throughout.
In the second round, Kholmatov, 25, landed a series of left blows to the side of Ford's head. The American stood his ground and threw two quick right hands. Suddenly, he lost his balance and staggered back across the ring and into the ropes. When asked what happened, he said: “I tripped and fell.” At first it seemed like an excuse but reviewing a video several times showed that his right foot was inside Kholmatov's left foot when Ray tripped over it.
The end began when Ford hurt Kholmatov with a right uppercut in the final round, which seemingly eliminated the Uzbek's entire game. Ford chased him down, landing a left hook and a straight right that sent his opponent crashing into the ropes. Kholmatov bounced off the line like a ball in a pinball game and as he tried to hang on, Ford flipped him over his hip and onto the canvas. Referee Charlie Fitch correctly ruled that there was no knockdown and as soon as he cleaned Kholmatov's gloves, Ford attacked.
Kholmatov retreated unsteady on his feet and Ford landed two rights to the head before his opponent turned his back and charged the ropes with his face diving over the top rope. Ford circled around and landed a left before the referee could get between them and stop the fight. Kholmatov was taken to the hospital for observation.
“I can't take anything away from Kholmatov,” the 25-year-old Ford said as we sat behind TKO Fitness in Cherry Hill, a town next to Camden. “He was a good fighter and did a lot of things there. I didn't know I had lost two cards. I just thought I had to win the last game, proving that I had won easily in the opponent's territory. I am fighting a Top Rank warrior with a Top Rank card.”
Ford celebrates (Ed Mulholland/Matchroom)
Ford is not interested in a rematch or unifying the featherweight title. “A lot of people want me to do it but I have to listen to my body. I've been competing in this weight class since I was an amateur so I can't compete in this weight class much longer. I wasn't at my best against Kholmatov because the weight training exhausted me.”
Now we know there will be at least one more defense – he has agreed to defend his title against Nick Ball in Saudi Arabia on June 1.
In the locker room after winning the championship, Ford's mother, Pamela, hugged her son emotionally, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I'm so proud of you,” she said. Without her, his life would have been very different.
“I used to fight in the streets and at school and got into a lot of trouble. My mom didn't want me to do boxing, but she ended up getting me into boxing when I was 10 years old,” said Ford, who has three sisters and two brothers.
After winning the US National Golden Gloves championship in 2018, Ford considered entering the Olympic Trials but was unhappy with the politics involved in the amateur aspect of the sport. In addition, he has an attractive alternative.
“Eddie Hearn reached out to me after I won the Golden Gloves,” Ford said. “He told me he had been watching me and heard good things so he wanted to sign me. I've been with Eddie since the beginning. I am me, I want to fight the best. I took everything they offered me. Whatever gives me the most money is what I'll take. At my best, I believe I can beat them all.”
“This will change your life,” Hearn said excitedly. “I truly believe you will win the war. I wouldn't have flown all the way here if I didn't.”
“Do you see how I'm walking towards him,” Ford replied. “You know I have a dog in me. All my hard work has paid off. It's like a dream come true. I really can't believe it.”
“Let's go home [fight in Camden]“, Hearn said.
At this stage in Ford's career, especially if he beats Ball, a return home probably wouldn't be financially feasible. The last time Camden was a famous boxing city was during World War II, when Joey Maxim defeated Jersey Joe Walcott in 10 rounds at Public City Ballpark, August 28, 1946. There were 7,709 fans present , the most ever for an outdoor match in the city's history. Since then, nothing has come close to that number.
Then there's Camden's reputation. Journalist Chris Hedges calls Camden “the material trash of post-industrial America,” and there is a lot of truth to that view. Located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Camden was previously on the list of the 10 most dangerous cities in America. However, crime has decreased significantly since the city police department was disbanded and replaced with a county police department. It's not exactly a holiday destination, though.
With the exception of the brief reign of Jason Sosa, who held the WBA super welterweight title from June 2016 until being stopped by Vasy Lomachanko the following April, Camden has not had a champion since the days of Dwight Muhmmad Qawi, “Camden Buzzsaw”. ” who held the lightweight and cruiserweight titles in the 1980s. That changed when southpaw Ford, born and raised in Camden, stopped Kholmatov. It was a brilliant match but it was the phenomenal finish that made it so special and a candidate for match of the year.
“I was exhausted and relieved that the war was over,” Ford said. “I have been away from my three-year-old daughter Malani for a month and a half. Now she is my world. When my baby was born I cried. I couldn't control my tears. Just need someone to respect me. She pointed at the TV and said 'da-da.' When she grows up she will understand that. My last fight, she was more involved. I don't know what I would do without her. I love her to death.”
When asked if he would consider allowing his daughter to take up boxing, Ray said: “I would teach her some things but don't want her to enter a competition. It's a dangerous sport.”
Coming into the fight, Ford had just seven distance wins in 15 professional fights, but his punches seemed harder than Kholmatov's, especially when he dug deep to the body; a resounding thump could be heard as they landed. Ball should take note.
“I definitely feel stronger. Even when I practice, I still hurt people. My manhood is coming, but it's not something I value,” Ford said. “I rely on my boxing IQ, speed and skill. I don't want to be one of those warriors who loves his power. It took away my IQ and I would get hit silly. I don't want to think of myself as a power puncher.”
“He is an outstanding fighter, a special fighter,” said Shakur Stevenson, one of the most special talents active today. “I'm training with him.”
Ford has three coaches, Reginald Lloyd, Anthony Rodriquez and Tarao Stevenson. “They all have different roles in different positions,” Floyd said. His manager is Brian Peters, the Irishman manages Katie Taylor and other famous boxers.
Ford's move up to super welterweight was inevitable and when he did, he knew who he wanted in the opposite corner. “I want to fight [WBC super-featherweight title-holder] O'Shaquie Foster.”
A statue of Walcott was erected in October 2023 at Wiggins Waterfront Park and part of the inauguration included a parade. “I should have been in that parade,” Ford said. “But I fell asleep.”
There have been rumors of a parade in Ford's honor. If that happens, you better set an alarm clock.
