Kholmatov vs Ford: How to Watch, Betting Odds & Prediction

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Tomos Ivers

Raymond Ford (14-0-1, 7 KOs) will challenge Otabek Kholmatov (12-0, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBA Featherweight Championship this Saturday in the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

The two southpaws have been fast tracked to world level and will be fighting for their first world title in a booming featherweight division.

How to Watch Kholmatov vs Ford in the UK:

British fight fans can watch the fight live on Sky Sports Action, with coverage set to get underway at 1am. Main event ring-walks are expected to take place at around 4am UK time. 

Recent Form:

WBA number one Kholmatov finally gets his shot at world honours after former champion Leigh Wood vacated following victory over Josh Warrington. The Uzbek fighter comes into this clash with all but one of his 12 professional contests finishing inside the scheduled distance.

British boxing fans will be all too familiar with the knockout artist after his demolition of Thomas Patrick Ward in Newcastle last March.

Ford comes into the contest on the back of six straight victories since his split decision draw against Aaron Perez back in 2021. The first of those wins coming against now British Super Featherweight champion Reece Bellotti during Matchroom Boxing’s fight camp. The American put in a stellar performance last time out and picked up a unanimous decision over former world champion Jessie Magadaleno.

The winner of this matchup will be well placed for a unification with Luis Alberto Lopez should he successfully defend his IBF title on the undercard.

Undercard:

Luis Alberto Lopez vs Reiya Abe - IBF Featherweight title - 12 x 3 

Brian Norman Jr vs Janelson Figueroa Bocachica - Welterweight - 10 x 3 

Rohan Polanco vs Tarik Zaina - Welterweight - 8 x 3 

Troy Isley vs Marcos Hernandez - Middleweight - 8 x 3 

Nico Ali Walsh vs Luke Iannuccilli - Middleweight - 6 x 3

Betting Odds:

Kholmatov enters at favourite on the moneyline. UniBet and BetMGM are offering the Uzbek at 4/6 with a 60% implied probability of him winning. 

Ford meanwhile is a slight underdog at 7/5 with BetWay, which carries a implied probability 41% implied probability of him claiming the vacant title. 

The draw stands at 20/1 with SkyBet, carrying a 4.76% implied probability.

Main Event Prediction:

It is hard to look past the knockout record of Kholmatov with eight of his 11 knockouts coming in the first three rounds.

However, the power puncher is yet to face anyone of Ford's calibre and was taken the full 12-round distance by Andranik Grigorian. In his last contest the Uzbek struggled to pin down Balam Hernandez Acosta, only managing to secure the stoppage in the eighth and final round.

Ford won’t be afraid to come forward after dropping his last two opponents on route to victory and has seven knockouts to his name.

A Kholmatov victory by late stoppage seems the most probable outcome as Ford is likely to come forward but has the skills to avoid an early stoppage.

OddsNow's Pick: Kholmatov by TKO/KO between rounds 10-12 (17/2 @ Betfair) 

 

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