Ray Ford stops Kholmatov in thriller for WBA featherweight title

Ray Ford stops Kholmatov in thriller for WBA featherweight title

American Ray Ford clinched the vacant WBA featherweight world title with a thrilling 12th round last-minute stoppage of Uzbekistan’s Otabek Kholmatov on Saturday.

Ford was down 106-103 on two of the scorecards going into the final round but the New Jersey fighter landed a strong right hook that left Kholmatov reeling.

With Ford, now 15-0 with one drawn and eight knockouts, raining punches on the wobbling Uzbeki, the referee stepped in.

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“I always knew I had it in me. I come from a rough background. There’s nothing that can stop me ever,” said Ford, bleeding from the eye after an accidental clash of heads.

“I always knew I had a better inside game to him. I didn’t expect him to be as sharp as he was as a boxer and he used his legs as much as he could.

“I knew I had to dig down to his body and bring it sharp hooks up upstairs and you know that’s my money punch so I knew I could get him out with one of those.”

Kholmatov, who had been well on top in the first four rounds, struggled with what appeared to be a knee injury picked up midway through the fight.

Ford began his comeback in round eight, landing a strong right jab and then following up with left upper cut with

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