Raymond Ford had been due to face streaking Anthony Cacace before the Irishman injured his back last month and pulled out of their high-stakes, 130-pound fight.

Abraham Nova happily replaced Cacace and will face Ford on Saturday night as part of the Moses Itauma-Dillian Whyte undercard at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. DAZN Pay-Per-View will stream this Esports World Cup Fight Week show in the UK (£15.99; 5:45 p.m. BST) and United States ($49.99; 12:45 p.m. ET).

Ford won 14 of his first 15 pro bouts. The lone blemish was an early draw on the Camden, New Jersey, native’s record.

The 26-year-old southpaw scored a come-from-behind, 12th-round stoppage of Otabek Kholmatov to claim the vacant WBA featherweight title in March 2024. Ford lost his championship in a close battle with Nick Ball, who won a split decision in June 2024.

Ford moved up to junior lightweight and has scored a pair of 10-round unanimous points wins over Orlando Gonzalez and Thomas Mattice.

Nova started out his career with an impressive 21 consecutive wins before he was taken apart by Robeisy Ramirez, who stopped the Albany, New York, native in the fifth round in June 2022. Nova rebounded strongly to earn a shot at O'Shaquie Foster’s WBC super featherweight title, but he was narrowly edged out over 12 rounds by split decision.

Nova also lost a close 10-round unanimous decision to Andres Cortes and was held to a 10-round draw by Humberto Galindo before he returned to winning ways against journeyman German Meraz, whom he stopped after the third round June 7.

Below are the thoughts of fellow fighters, former champions, trainers and matchmakers on the Ford-Nova fight.

RUDY HERNANDEZ (TRAINER): “I think it’s a very interesting, even fight. I can’t see that fight not being a good one for the public. Both are talented and have fought good fighters. In a close fight, I think that Ray Ford pulls it out by decision.”

RONNIE SHIELDS (TRAINER): “Great fight, both guys are really good. I really like the way Nova fights. It’s going to be an all action fight. I see Nova winning on points.”

WAYNE MCCULLOUGH (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/ TRAINER): “Nova is comfortable at mid-range, picking his shots patiently, but he’ll need to push the pace and force Ford into a fight to have any chance of pulling this off. Ford, a sharp southpaw with speed and precision, just needs to stay composed and use his fast hands to break Nova down to the head and body. If he sticks to that game plan, I think Ford either wins comfortably on points or gets a late stoppage.”

JIM KAMBOSOS (MANAGER): “Ford’s edge lies in timing, youth, activity and his southpaw stance. Nova brings size, power and veteran savviness. Ford is fresh, in form, and has settled in well at his new weight class. Nova, though, is always dangerous, has dipped in performance lately and is stepping in on short notice. I see Ford winning a clear decision – likely by unanimous decision or possibly late TKO.”

BOBBY BENTON (TRAINER): “This is an interesting fight. Nova is a hard guy to look good against. He’s awkward and physical. He knows how to survive. I think Ford will win.”

MARC RAMSAY (TRAINER): “Nova always provides an interesting challenge, but his couple latest fights indicate that he may have passed his prime. On the side of Ford, even in his defeat against Nick Ball, he impressed me, proving that he can continue to box very well even when he is under enormous pressure. Ford [by] unanimous decision.”

O’SHAQUIE FOSTER (WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION): “I got Nova knocking little buddy out in the fourth round.”

RYAN GARNER (JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER): “I can’t really go against Ford. I think he’s a real good fighter. I’m going to go with Ford potentially by late stoppage or unanimous decision."

BRAD GOODMAN (MATCHMAKER): “I like Ford a lot and if Nova is in top shape, he’ll have his moments. He’s fought top-level guys to make it interesting, but I just think Ford is a little too physical and being a lefty might cause Nova a problem. I think Ford might be able to stop him midway through the fight.”

RICH MAROTTA (COMMENTATOR): "I like the Ford-Nova fight, which I suspect will be a fan-friendly scrap with a high volume of punches. I love Raymond’s style. Highly skilled, high energy, terrific speed of hand and he has fought fine competition. Nova is a willing fighter, and he should not be taken lightly even though he is a substitute. He has an unusual, often awkward style which makes him a difficult adversary. Problem is, in some recent fights, he has fought just well enough to barely lose. I suspect that will be his fate again. Ford wins a close decision in a very competitive match.”