The dream Raymond Ford first pursued as an ambitious adolescent while surviving the dangerous streets of Camden, New Jersey seemed more than jeopardized during the 12th round of his first world title fight March 2.

Cut deeply beneath his left eye and trailing on two scorecards, Ford, more boxer than puncher, desperately needed to catch Otabek Kholmatov with the kind of right hand he eventually landed when there were just over 30 seconds to go in their 12-round featherweight championship match March 2 in Verona, New York. Ford’s stunning shot snapped back Kholmatov’s head.

Sensing their highly competitive fight had changed, and that he was running out of time, Ford followed up and connected with multiple punches prior to tossing Kholmatov to the canvas with only 25 seconds remaining in their fan-friendly fight. An opportunistic Ford (16-1-1, 8 KOs) then drilled a backtracking Kholmatov with one more hard right that caused Kholmatov to turn his back as he tried to keep Ford from finishing him.

It was then that referee Charlie Fitch realized Uzbekistan’s Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KOs) should not have continued. Fitch stopped their epic encounter – The Ring’s “Fight of the Year” for 2024 – with only seven seconds to go in the final round.

Ford was behind 106-103 through the 11th round according to judges Eric Marlinski and John McKaie. Judge Don Ackerman had Ford ahead 105-104 entering the 12th round.

The 25-year-old Ford, who lost his subsequent bout and the WBA featherweight title to England’s Nick Ball by split decision, proudly picked up his award Saturday night at The Ring’s inaugural awards gala in London. DAZN streamed the event live from Old Royal Naval College in London.

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