Heavyweight champion Raymond Ford joins Nick Ball in a 5-on-5 undercard that will fill the Atul Beterbi event on June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The light heavyweight unification fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Ford (15-0-1, 8 KOs) captured his WBA belt with a second-last victory over Otabek Kholmatov in March, a fight he competed in earlier this year. Ford represents Eddie Hoenas’ Matchroom team and joins a team captained by new signing Deontay Wilder.
Power (19-0-1, 11 KOs), of Liverpool, England, will challenge longtime titleholder Rey Vargas a week after Ford’s career ended in a split decision. Earlier, Ball beat former world champion Isaac Dogboe from long range.
Former world featherweight champion Angelo Rio is currently ranked seventh in the Ford Belt Test rankings. The 29-year-old Leo, known as “El Chinito,” has won three times since entering the 126-pound division.
“It was a really fun fight,” Leo told BoxingScene.
— You know, Nick Ball is like a little ball. He’s short, but he can get in there and ride hard. He is a very good fighter, very strong.
– You saw in the last game, Raymond Ford was also very difficult. He wanted more than Kholmatov wanted. I think it will be a good fight and I think Nick Ball will have a lot of problems with Ford and he will probably get beaten. – I think he has the potential to be a problem for Ford. He has a rivalry with Rey Vargas. I’ll have to go back and watch the tape to judge properly, but to the naked eye I think it’s pretty close. This may end up paying off.
Leo (24-1, 11 KOs) defeated Stephen Fulton in 2021, but since moving up to featherweight, defeated Nicholas Poland on “Wednesday Night Fights” Coe, Mike Planha and Eduardo Baez on ProBox TV.
Angelo Leo Thinks Nick Ball Is ‘Stylistically’ A Problem For Raymond Ford https://t.co/DtR6vkeKlu
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) April 22, 2024
Ashley’s thoughts:
The upcoming fight between Nick Ball and Raymond Ford promises to be an interesting fight, with both boxers looking to fight Artur Beterbiev-Dmitri in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Lee Bivol will leave his mark on fights light heavyweight combination.
As the fight approaches, Angelo Rio, the former world champion of the fight, shares his knowledge of the fight, and shows the strength of Ball and the strength of Ford. Leo praised Ball’s fighting spirit, saying he was a formidable opponent despite his size. However, he believes that Ball could be in trouble with the skill and strength of Ford, who has been thirsty for victory in previous races.
While reflecting on Ford’s fight with Otabek Khargaov, Leo praised Ford’s strength and commitment in the ring. He hopes Ball will struggle with Ford’s ruthless approach, which could be a challenge for the Liverpool striker.
Leo also acknowledged Ball’s rivalry with Rey Vargas, saying it added a layer of intrigue to the match. Although Leo admitted that Pooro might be a problem for Ford, in the end he favored Ford to win this race.
Fans can look forward to an exciting showdown between Ball and Ford as both champions prepare to showcase their talents on the world stage. As the boxing world awaits the outcome of their bout, Leo’s assessment gives insight into the dynamics of the fight and the challenges ahead for both fighters. Anticipation continues to build as the fight nears, with fans anticipating the moment Ball and Ford step into the ring to settle their differences. Leo’s analysis adds depth to the game’s narrative, setting up an unforgettable battle between the two competitors.
