Boxing
Is Ford more ‘Savage’ than Foster gives credit for before bout?
Foster vs. Ford on DAZN subscription - Saturday
Boxing’s landscape currently touts colorful ring monikers such as ‘The Gypsy King’, ‘Bam’, ‘Boots’, ‘The Monster’ (two of them), ‘The Dream’ and ‘Tank’ just to name a few.
Heading into their Saturday night fight live on DAZN, O’Shaquie Foster is well aware that Ray Ford goes by ‘Savage.’ But he isn’t sold on the nickname whatsoever.
“The savages that I know are like GGG, that’s savage,” Foster recently told DAZN News, referring to boxing legend Gennadiy Golovkin. “Guys that’s handling their business on a whole other level. That’s a nickname that [Ford] gave to himself.”
Foster & Ford Prepare for War in Texas
Despite doubts entering their bout in Houston, is Ford more of a ‘Savage’ than the WBC 130-pound champ is willing to give him credit for?
Well, the 27-year-old Ford spent a bulk of his career arguably being too comfortable sitting on the back foot and picking opponents apart with stinging output.
That changed in real time before our eyes during his breakthrough performance against Otabek Kholmatov in March 2024, when Ford leaned into being the aggressor, forward fighting to dictate the terms of the bout.
The incessant pursuit of the Uzbek fighter led to a riveting 12th-round TKO in crowning the Camden, New Jersey product as the WBA featherweight world titleholder. Pretty savage.
Though he would fall back into sitting on the back foot over stretches in a loss to Nick Ball that June, Ford would return to his aggression and bring the fight to an opponent five months later.
In a bout against Orlando Gonzalez, Ford dropped the Puerto Rican fighter with a lightning-quick right hook in the second round to power his way to a dominant unanimous decision. Savage? Check.
The next spring, he battered Thomas Mattice to the head and body toward a roaring unanimous decision shutout. Savage, indeed.
Although his bout against Abraham Nova last August was more competitive, Ford still served up a buffet of dishes that he force-fed his opponent with, making sure Nova ate them cleanly. Savage — in sequence — if you will.
Still, Foster isn’t exactly convinced.
When he and Ford recently sat down face to face for a Matchroom Boxing segment, Foster asked him straight up “so who you stepped to?” It was the champ’s attempt to take the challenger’s temperature on how Ford feels about his own uptick in forward fighting.
When they met Tuesday during the first fight week faceoff, Ford vowed “I’m gonna break you the f— up” to which Foster responded by shoving the challenger.
Unfazed, Foster will only recognize Ford for being a ‘Savage’ if the challenger makes him a believer. Even then, Foster believes his skills will refute anything Ford conjures Saturday night.
“I’m gonna 'Shock' the world,” said Foster, playing up one of his own ring monikers, the other being ‘Ice Water.’ “He can be ‘Savage,’ but I’m going to 'Shock' all that and turn it away.”
Analysis: Will Foster be under pressure?
DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
If Ford’s past few fights are any indication, Foster will be under attack … and early due to the former’s rejuvenated aggression. Then again, Ford’s last few opponents haven’t been of the caliber of Foster, who is defensively sound, has the rich skills and rises to the occasion with scrappy, yet strategic fighting. Winning the battle of the front foot will be crucial for Saturday night’s fight.
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