Raymond Ford is universally respected in boxing circles.

He's ranked No. 3 by the WBC, No. 4 with the WBA and IBF and No. 5 in the WBO's 130-pound rankings, but WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson doesn't believe the former featherweight titleholder gets enough credit.

"Ray Savage one of the best fighters in the world," Stevenson wrote on his social media account.

Come Saturday, the man nicknamed 'Savage' will get a chance to prove he's as good as Stevenson says.

As part of the Moses Itauma-Dillian Whyte undercard on DAZN PPV, Ford will face one-time title challenger Abraham Nova. Originally, the 26-year-old was slated to face Anthony Cacace, The Ring's No. 3-rated divisional contender, before he withdrew with a back injury.

Nova (24-3-1, 17 KOs) isn't a pushover but has endured a tough stretch in recent years after suffering consecutive defeats by WBC beltholder O'Shaquie Foster and Andres Cortes, being held to a 10-round split draw with Humberto Galindo in November.

Although he forced a stoppage after three rounds against German Ivan Meraz in June, Ford isn't worried about anything the 31-year-old is bringing to the table.

Since losing his WBA 126-pound title to Nick Ball on Saudi shores in June 2024, he's looked sharp in the weight class above.

Thomas Mattice failed to win a single round against Ford, who outboxed him during a 10-round affair in their April 12 matchup on the Jaron Ennis-Eimantas Stanionis undercard.

Although their matchup isn't big, Stevenson remains heavily invested. He believes once Ford (17-1-1, 8 KOs) shows up and shows out, the Camden, New Jersey southpaw will gain even more fans.