Boxing
O'Shaquie Foster-Raymond Ford: What next for both men after successful title defence?
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O'Shaquie Foster delivered one of his best performances in recent years as he outpointed Raymond Ford to retain his WBC super-featherweight crown.
The pair played out a close, often fraught encounter in Houston on Saturday night, filled with plenty of back-and-forth spark as both men showed their stuff.
A second-half show of strength was enough for Foster to take the call, before the star became embroiled in a near-fracas with Shakur Stevenson afterwards.
For the winner, it ensures he remains at the top of the pile - but for Ford, it leaves him with questions over his next moves after a tough loss to swallow in Texas.
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So what comes next for both men after this frequently gripping encounter? DAZN News outlines the options that face each fighter and what they may do.
O'Shaquie Foster
After a febrile back-and-forth between both men in the build-up to their fight, it was 'Shock' who got the job done in the Lone Star State in the end.
For Foster, retaining his WBC crown was the task - and in that sense, he passed it with flying colours, to tee up a potential unification opportunity next.
Unified champion Emanuel Navarrete and WBA holder Anto Cacace are feasible options - but given his clash with the star, what about Stevenson?
Currently two divisions above, the ex-WBO super-featherweight champion could switch tracks if the pair decide they can make a blockbuster clash.
Raymond Ford
The former WBA featherweight champion switched tracks after Nick Ball brought his reign to an end back in 2024 - but will he follow the same track here?
Having dropped out of the IBF and WBO rankings in recent months, there is no obvious back to another title shot in the division right now for Ford.
But with two very close losses to his name, and plenty of stock in his performances, it seems unlikely he will remain out of contention for much longer.
Expect him to seek another ranked opponent, in order to facilitate a swift rebuild at super-featherweight - or perhaps add a few more pounds and move.
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