Otabek Kholmatov vs Raymond Ford | ESPN - March 2, 2024

[margaret thatcher]

turned into a good fight! otabek looking tired but still doing better work for me

[skanksta]

It's something like OK 5-4 or 6-3 for me...

Great stuff

[margaret thatcher]

ford taking the 9th off it looked like, not sure he can afford to do that.....

[Boxingguru75]

Bradley is too in love with Ford. Good fight. Kkomatov ahead but love work of both fighters.

[thomasjkelley]

Tim Bradley has got to be fired. He is lying out his аss commenting on this fight. It’s egregious. I put money on Ford because I can see something fishy is about to happen

[skanksta]

Wow !

[Monzon83]

What a finish. Not sure that should have been stopped. Otabek could surely have made it through to the end there.

[skanksta]

Kho had that in the bag - "close but clear" 115-113 UD kinda thing, then...

[margaret thatcher]

wow! otabek woulda been much better not falling into the ropes, if he goes down maybe he gets a count

[ldlamb]

Well….that sure was something

[Monzon83]

Otabek will kick himself, he had that fight there for him and lost it right at the end

Credit to Ford though for digging deep.

[margaret thatcher]

great effort both, nice win ford

looked like everything was shaping up for a decision, then suddenly otabek's legs are no more

[skanksta]

Coulda escaped with a draw or razor thin win with one KD...!

Well played Ray Ford !

[skanksta]

2 x 106-103 - good judging and Ford needed that KO !

[margaret thatcher]

if only he took a knee.......though it's easier to say that looking on from the sidelines than when you're exhausted and gotten your head punched a hundred plus times

[Monzon83]

Ford v Cordina is a very nice fight.

Hearn might not want it though. Ford is a tough mofo.

[margaret thatcher]

raymond ford despite the gutsy win looks to me like a fighter who lacks confidence sometimes in the ring. after a very hesitant startt he had great periods moving forward, but then after otabek became aggressive would revert back to these tentative rounds where he was getting pushed around and looking nervous to open up. physically he has some very nice tools, if he can apply them more consistently and stick with the right gameplan he can go to another level still . his last 2 wins have been his most impressive, which is a good sign.

come from behind 12th round knockouts are always special, great way to win your title/awful way for otabek to lose. that's boxing!

[victor-romeo]

Great fight bad stoppage..

[margaret thatcher]

it was kinda bad luck for otabek, because i think if his legs had been even shakier and he falls to the canvas - he probably gets a count, some recovery time, then only has a few seconds - increasing his odds at survival. falling into the ropes you basically have the ref seeing him there defensless and ford still able to punch, so i can understand the call and never sensed any bias from the ref during the fight

personally if they have a rule that you give knockdowns when you think the ropes held someone up, i woulda given one them. i dont remember exactly the time left, but to be fair maybe ford would still have had a chance to finish it with a few seconds remaining. he was going full throttle at that point

[Perseus]

Great fight bad stoppage..

Excellent stoppage.
Kholmatov had completely turned his back to Ford and was moving away from him until he literally ran out of room to run away and was defenseless at that point.

Stumbling away, back turned to opponent, halted and held up by the ropes then was not defending himself from further punishment..............that's a good stoppage every time.

[jwfg]

Great fight bad stoppage..

Kholmatov was no longer in a position to defend himself, so the fight was stopped. Them's the rules.

[handsofstone]

Some turnaround from Ford that, I had Kholmotov well in front,nhad him sweeping the first 4 rounds, he was on the front foot, punches in bunches, keeping Ford occupied but around rounds 4/5 Ford began holding his feet, letting his power punches go and Kholmotov wasn't as effective on the back foot, still Kholmotov wasn't out of it by a long shot, the combinations, the left hand worked well, Ford showed his mettle though, never wilted, still a major surprise to see him get the last round TKO, it was Kholmotov who was coming on strong, Ford was cut but then out of nowhere staggered Kholmotov and had him reeling, don't like the stoppage tbh, Kholmotov was hurt but ref was a bit too quick for my liking

[steve689]

I'm not loving the stoppage. Kholmatov went running for cover, reached the ropes and crumbled. Ropes held him up, ref should initiate a count at that point IMO.

I don't have a horse in the race with either men. Cracking fight. But not sure the wave off was needed just at that point.

[NoScoutingReports]

Quality fight!