DALTON Smith's growing legion of fans includes an unlikely former world champion, one two years younger and three weight divisions lighter but nonetheless eager to maximize his talents and retire before the sport's relentlessness diminishes his quality of life.

Former WBA featherweight world champion Raymond Ford (16-1-1, 8 KOs) was among the spectators watching Smith's stoppage win over France's Walid Ouizza from Las Vegas in a rare 12-hour boxing bonanza for DAZN. Having previously shared a card with Smith in Nottingham, the New Jersey southpaw shared thoughts after an emphatic first-round finish.

"I'd say 140, I don't know though. I don't want to be in boxing that long, want to retire around 29. Invest and travel, that's it. I want to still be able to talk when I'm older," he told DAZN's Chris Mannix when asked about the highest weight division he'd box at in future, and what he'd most like doing with his time after an early retirement.

"Don't rush out, Ray!" was the teasing response from his promoter, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn and while they could laugh about it, there's a maturity to Ford's words that many around his age-group rarely exhibit in boxing circles.

Ford is ranked #5 by the WBC, #6 with the WBA and #7 with the IBF at 130-pounds and knows he'll need a few more victories before he can consider himself a firm fixture in the world title picture again.

The Ring caught up with Hearn last week and he was effusive in his praise for a fighter he's grown close with, having tracked the 25-year-old's progress on the amateur circuit and pouncing to sign him professionally after he opted against extending his amateur experience to represent Team USA at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.

"You should always have a plan post-boxing, I was joking with him a little bit because I like to make sure you're not focusing on the end, you're focusing on now. He has so much ability, wants to fight Eduardo Nunez who I believe will become a world champion, O'Shaquie Foster, all those guys."

Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) scored a stoppage win over Miguel Marriaga last August 31 on the undercard of Diego Pacheco's headline victory over Maciej Sulecki.

The IBF have formally ordered the Mexican to box Masanori Rikiishi (16-1, 11 KOs) for the recently-vacant junior lightweight title previously held by Anthony Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs) and while March 2 is the deadline to agree terms, there's an expectation they will avoid a purse bid in securing a spring date for that proposed bout.

O'Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) meanwhile, reclaimed the WBC world junior lightweight strap controversially lost against Robson Conceicao in an immediate rematch last November 2.

The 31-year-old has called for a unification bout with Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) after the Mexican returned to his natural 130-pound weight and earned a repeat win over Oscar Valdez on December 7, seven months removed from an unsuccessful WBO title tilt against Denys Berinchyk at lightweight.

As far as Ford is concerned, he's already in a self-described pre-season camp and the competitive juices always flow when around the company he keeps. Shakur Stevenson has a world title defense later this month, Keyshawn Davis' maiden world championship opportunity unfolds the week prior while others continue keeping him hungry, striving for more greatness.

Having claimed Ring's 2024 Fight of the Year honors for his thrilling 12th-round knockout win over Otabek Kholmatov at the inaugural Ring awards show in London last month, Hearn hinted that his next matchup could see him settle some bad blood.

After attributing his split decision defeat by Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) to one tight weight cut too many and pitching a dominant 10-round decision win on his super-featherweight debut against Orlando Gonzalez (23-3, 13 KOs), it appears a former foe could be next.

One-time world title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs) was unfortunate not to get the nod against Joe Cordina during their razor-thin Monte-Carlo headliner on a DAZN show in November 2023 and after two victories the following year, the Texan may have a chance to right a wrong from three years ago.

Many felt he did enough to win over ten rounds against Ford, though ultimately dropped a split decision during an entertaining clash between unbeaten featherweights in February 2022.

Another to have also watched Ford's progress as a highly-touted amateur, Vazquez would love an opportunity to avenge that defeat.

"There's a good chance Ford could box Vazquez, many felt he beat Ray and there's a lot of beef between them. If that happens, it'll be on the Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis undercard [April 12], we'll be announcing more information on it soon," Hearn revealed.