Three consecutive winless outings, including a 12-round split decision loss for world championship honours, is a rough place for anyone to be.

Abraham Nova had already rebuilt once before and again returned from the wilderness in June, not knowing a short-notice assignment would come calling the following month on Saudi shores to face a former world champion seeking to carve out more legacy in another weight division.

Raymond Ford has his sights set on becoming a two-weight titleholder before long, with bigger and more lucrative names in the pipeline. But first, he must look to do a more definitive job than reigning WBC champion O'Shaquie Foster managed while compromised in February 2024 when returning to the scene of his first career defeat next weekend.

Nova has plenty to gain and nothing to lose, so can he finally overcome his hoodoo against elite opposition and score an upset where several others have fallen short?

Last fight: Ticking off a long-held dream to box at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox and another sporting stage synonymous with his Puerto Rican roots. It wasn't exactly the best opposition, but he scored his first stoppage win in two years as 143-fight Mexican pro German Ivan Meraz couldn't continue after three rounds. An effective way to dust off the cobwebs and a morale-boosting return.

Odds: Unsurprisingly given the stakes, recent form and his short-notice for what is essentially a world title eliminator, Nova is a noticeable underdog — ranging anywhere from 9/2 and above.

How does Nova win? Do what got him to the dance. Nova wasn't the first, nor second option after news broke of Cacace's injury but that should embolden him further to take chances and leave nothing to chance against a technically astute boxer campaigning in the weight division below as recently as last summer.

He's bigger and holds a three-inch reach advantage over the 26-year-old, so should embrace that by making their contest a physically gruelling one, aggressive from the off and stifling Ford's ability to ping him at a distance. Thomas Mattice had those strengths but was unable to, lacking power and an urgency to keep Ford honest in the early going.

Take a leaf out of Edward Vazquez's book, feint plenty and press the younger man onto his back foot — even if Nova's defensive tendencies don't mirror the Texan's herky-jerky style. That will offset the former champion's rhythm and present an aggressive-minded Nova opportunities to score favour with the judges. Do so enough in the first-half and this won't be another southpaw showcase.

What it means if he wins: It's not an understatement to say this would be a seismic career-best win for Nova, propelling him towards another world title shot.

Had you uttered those words even nine months ago after a dubious 10-round split draw with Humberto Galindo, many would've turned their noses up in disbelief. Unranked among the major four sanctioning bodies, he would seize Ford's high standing among them (No. 4 IBF, WBC, WBA and No. 5 WBO) while belatedly proving Top Rank were right to thrust him into the spotlight.

What they're saying: "There's no fear [and] no doubt in me. I know a lot of people are calling me out, we'll see on fight night if I'm done and I'm out.

"I've had a lot of different battles in life, situations I've been going through, but this is my time to shine, show the doubters, naysayers, all the negative commentators and people — don't just look past me. I'm going to come, show you guys I'm still a wrecking ball."

TV/Stream: Raymond Ford-Abraham Nova will feature as part of an Esports World Cup Fight Week six-fight bill and available to stream live on DAZN PPV. The event is priced at £19.99 in the United Kingdom, $19.99 in the United States, €19.99 across Europe and $39.99 in Australia.