Raymond Ford doesn’t have many regrets in his career but he does wish he did at least one thing differently.

If you saw Ford out and about on a regular day, he wouldn’t exactly come across as a little guy. His shoulders are a bit broad, his back is wide, and just his overall stature is bigger than it looks considering the weight class he fights in.

Yet, despite that, Ford competed at 126 pounds for years. Making weight was never easy but the New Jersey native always believed he could grab a belt down there, something he accomplished in 2024. His reign, however, was transient, as Nick Ball pilfered his title in his first defense.

Revenge was on Ford’s mind but he needed a reprieve. Once he headed over to 130 pounds, he got one. Now, with a solid win over Orlando Gonzalez, He made it two in a row when he dominated Thomas Mattice recently in Atlantic City.

Losing would put Ford at the bottom of the barrel but a win could place him in line for a title shot. Ford would be willing to face anyone, but his preference might be Lamont Roach Jr.

The issue with fantasizing about that matchup is that Roach is, at least for now, a 135-pounder. He’s also waiting to get word on whether or not he’ll get an immediate rematch with Gervonta Davis.

Sometimes, boxing forces us to live in conjectural worlds under hypothetical rules. So let’s say Roach, win or lose or draw (again) in a Davis rematch, decides that he’s done with 130 pounds. That wouldn’t make Ford truculent. Although he did stick around at 126 pounds for roughly six years, that isn’t his intention at 130. If Roach told Ford that he was next in line, the highly rated contender would go ahead and make the move up in weight.

“I won’t be at 130 for extremely long,” said Ford to Boxing News. “I can always move up and we can get it on.”