Raymond Ford is plotting a world title in a second weight class as he moves up to 130lbs to take on Orlando Gonzalez in Philadelphia on November 9.
Ford, who this year lost his featherweight strap to Nick Ball, will act as chief-support to the world title doubleheader that sees Jaron Ennis defend his IBF welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian and Jesse Rodriguez puts his WBC junior bantamweight belt on the line against Pedro Guevara.
Ford (15-1-1, 8 KOs) won the WBA crown at Featherweight in March with a 12th round KO win over Otabek Kholmotov in Verona, New York before losing to Ball three months later.
The 25-year-old admitted to Matchroom Boxing podcast ‘Flash Knockdown’ that he held on at 126lbs for too long, despite his body telling him to move up.
“I don’t single out anybody or try to go for the easiest route,” said Ford. “I just want the champions to give me the opportunity to fight for a world title, and I want to test my skills amongst the best. I hear that Anthony Cacace is going to move up, so Sugar Nunez will get a world title shot – if he doesn’t have a dance partner, I’ll fill those shoes and get in there with him.
“It’s the same thing when I fought for my first world title, guys moving up and vacating belts, it’s history repeating itself. I like the challenge with the guys that people are scared of or turn into the boogeyman, the monster. I like that, so I can go and display my skills and she that they are just regular human beings.
“I’m fighting alongside great champions in Philadelphia in Boots and Bam, but I’m at the stage in my career where I want to be headlining my own shoes and doing my own thing,” he continued. “It’s cool to fight close to home, and eventually I want to do my own thing.
“I don’t look at the Ball fight like it was a setback, I think I gained a lot more than anything. The fans enjoyed the fight, happy with it and even though I didn’t get the decision it was a great night of boxing, that’s what really matters, it’s about putting on a show for the fans. A lot of my fans think I won the fight, so I don’t feel bad about the fight in any way.
“I thought that I should have moved up before the Kholmotov fight, but I was so close to the World title, and I wanted to be a World champion. I stayed for the money and the opportunity to fight on the Saudi Arabia card, but truthfully, I should have moved up.”
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