Raymond Ford v Nick Ball - Tale of the Tape: Weight, height, reach, trainer & professional boxing records

We analyse the credentials and statistics of WBA featherweight champion Raymond Ford and Britain's Nick Ball as the pair get set to contest a hugely-anticipated world title showdown as part of the Queensberry v Matchroom card this weekend.

In 2024, no featherweights have increased their stock as much as Raymond Ford and Nick Ball.

In their first world title challenges, both men showed skill, heart, determination and power, but ultimately, only Ford ended up with a belt around his waist.

Now, they will battle it out for WBA featherweight strap, on Saturday 1st June, in Saudi Arabia, as Team Matchroom take on Team Queensberry Promotions.

Ford (4/7) will be looking to cement his status as one of the best young fighters on the planet by beating a second successive undefeated opponent.

For his part, Ball (11/8) will be aiming to end the night with championship gold around his waist after coming agonisingly close, in his disputed draw with Rey Vargas.

Who will prevail?

It's time to take a look at the 'Tale of the Tape'…
 

Raymond Ford v Nick Ball
Tale of the Tape

	Raymond Ford	Nick Ball
Odds:	4/7	11/8
Age:	25	27
Nickname:	'Savage'	N/A
Height:	5ft 7ins	5ft 2ins
Reach:	69ins	64ins
Weight:	Featherweight	Featherweight
Trainer:	Reginal Lloyd	Paul Stevenson
Record:	15-0-1 (8 KOs)	19-0-1 (11 KOs)
Last Fight:	Won - (TKO) - Otabek Kholmatov (March 2024)	Draw (SD) - Rey Vargas (March 2024)

Raymond Ford
In Profile

Perhaps, what makes boxing so captivating is the sport’s ability to produce moments of sudden, unexpected drama.

One punch can change a fight - Raymond Ford is acutely aware of this.

When the Camden, New Jersey, native battled Otabek Kholmatov for the vacant WBA featherweight title, the deck was stacked against him.

The Uzbek was an accomplished amateur who had seamlessly transitioned to the professional ranks. Kholmatov had made light work of his 12 previous fights, stopping 11 foes through a combination of accuracy and power.

The ability of his opponent ensured it would always be difficult for ‘Savage’ to become a world champion at the first time of asking, but the task was complicated further by the bout being staged by Kholmatov’s promoter.

As such, the American was a slight underdog ahead of his title tilt, but Ford was not fazed; he was adamant he would prevail.

The fight was a classic; a highly-skilled battle between two hard-hitting southpaws.

The bout ebbed and flowed as the rounds passed. Entering the final frame, Ford found himself down on two of the three judges’ scorecards, not that he was aware of that at the time, but he knew it was close.

In the last three minutes of the battle, ‘Savage’ lived up to his moniker as he went in search of the blow that would take his destiny out of the hands of the judges.

And, he found it!

With less than 30 seconds left on the clock, Ford landed a right uppercut which sent his rival reeling towards the ropes. In his eagerness to bring the fight to a close, the New Jersey fighter bundled Kholmatov to the floor, earning the Uzbek a few precious seconds of respite, but it would not be enough.

‘Savage’ unleashed a flurry of punches which lead to his opponent turning his back, obliging, referee, Charlie Fitch to halt the bout.

Ford returned to his corner before falling to his knees as he celebrated his achievements.

It was one of the sporting moments of the year.

Can ‘Savage’ reach those levels once more? If he is to do so, he will have to endure an arduous weight cut.

Ford expressed after his victory that he was intending to move up to the 130lbs division, but has been tempted to stay for a clash with Ball.

It remains to be seen what effect boiling down to featherweight once more will have on the champion.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Timing	Keeps his head too low
Applies pressure	Can be outworked
Hand-speed	Moves back in straight lines
Finishes fights strongly	Slow starter

Nick Ball
In Profile

While Ford’s maiden world title tilt ended in ecstasy, it was agony for Nick Ball.

The Liverpool man looked to have done enough to have his hand raised, against Rey Vargas, but had to settle for a draw.

During the first half of the fight, it looked unlikely that the Brit would earn a draw, never mind win the fight, as the two-weight world champion had things largely his own way through six rounds, as the challenger struggled to overcome Vargas’ sizeable height and reach advantages.

However, the last half-dozen of frames were a different story.

Despite being on the receiving end of considerable punishment early on, Ball continued his relentless march forward.

In the seventh, the approach finally bore fruit as the WBC featherweight holder was wobbled. Ball built on that success in eighth as he scored a disputed knockdown.

The Mexican was on the canvas again in the 11th as the English fighter went in search of a Hollywood ending.

Ultimately, the judges were unable to split them.

Fortunately for Ball, he has been presented with a second chance at glory.

Physically, Ford will not pose the same challenges that Vargas did, but the American is well-schooled, and, as he showed against Kholmatov, is dangerous right to the final bell.

Will it be second time lucky for Ball? Time will tell.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Power in both hands	Launches attacks from too far out
Body shots	Porous defence
Throws punches from unorthodox angles	Becomes unbalanced when attacking
Combination punching	Can be backed up against the ropes

All odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.