Raymond Ford Defeats Abraham Nova by Decision

Raymond Ford entered the ANB Arena in Riyadh on August 16, 2025, looking to reassert his presence among boxing’s elite after high-profile highs and setbacks. Opposing him was Abraham Nova, a late replacement with a reputation for action and ambition. While the pairing did not carry title stakes, it featured two fighters with contrasting styles—Ford, the southpaw stylist from Camden, New Jersey, and Nova, a broad-shouldered, aggressive orthodox from Puerto Rico by way of Albany—each seeking to use this stage as a springboard within the super featherweight division. The crowd, still buzzing from earlier undercard drama, settled in for what would become a measured chess match accented by moments of athleticism and grit.

Ford, the younger of the pair at 26, arrived with a rebuilt record of 17 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw—a slate notable for both its momentum and volatility following a TKO win over Otabek Kholmatov, a razor-close loss to Nick Ball earlier in the year, and recent confidence-building victories. Nova, 31 and with a slight height and reach advantage, stepped into the ring at 24-3-1 (17 KOs), determined to show he could still compete with the world’s best despite having dropped two recent decisions. As the opening rounds unfolded, Ford set the tone with compact movement, pawing right hooks, and a southpaw jab built on balance and quickness. Nova attempted to impose his size, driving forward behind heavy right hands, but found Ford elusive, the smaller man often pivoting away from danger and searching for sharp counters. The crowd responded with a guarded mix of anticipation and appreciation for the strategic nuance, even as both men looked for early reads on timing and distance.

Over the first three rounds, the fight swung in Ford’s direction, with the Camden native landing clean hooks and lead lefts when Nova over-committed. Wearing bright orange shorts adorned with a Tom and Jerry cartoon motif—an intentional nod to Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh’s call for bouts with more entertainment—Ford worked in quick combinations, especially to the body in close quarters. Nova, for his part, had pockets of success catching Ford at the end of the first round with crisp right hands and then using sporadic bursts to back Ford onto the ropes, hoping to draw a brawl out of the slicker boxer. Ford’s defence, however, remained alert; he slipped, blocked, or rode out most of Nova’s biggest swings, reserving energy for quick pivots and timely offence. The fourth and fifth saw Ford up his punch output, targeting the body with right hooks and mixing in lead lefts, forcing Nova to reset often and limiting his ability to throw in combinations.

Nova’s best moments were infrequent but visible. He capitalised when Ford lingered too long near the ropes or became predictable, circling to one side, working to the body before launching his heavy right upstairs. Yet Ford, quicker to the mark, rarely let Nova sustain momentum. The middle frames highlighted Ford’s command of distance and timing; he would cover ground with two quick jabs and roll out before Nova could respond in kind. The sixth round saw Ford land a pair of heavy hooks—one left and one right—that forced Nova into a defensive shell. The exchanges grew more animated in the seventh. Both men, after a brief quiet, engaged in a verbal exchange mid-round, a sign of the mutual respect and competitive edge underpinning the contest. Nova pressed, but Ford’s composure, edge in handspeed, and defensive reactions held sway.

The statistical edge for Ford became clearer as the fight drew to its conclusion. CompuBox numbers showed Ford outlanding Nova 127 to 101 in total punches. He also held a marked lead in power shots, connecting on 93 compared to Nova’s 80. Although neither man was ever in serious trouble, Ford’s ability to deny Nova long stretches of effective aggression was decisive. In the later rounds, Nova tried to turn the momentum with bursts of energy, launching wild right hands and pushing Ford onto the ropes. Yet Ford’s footwork, defensive head movement, and work to the body regularly reset the action and kept Nova a beat behind. The final round encapsulated much of what had come before: Nova stalking, looking for one big shot, Ford ducking a looping right before countering with a final decisive right hook of his own.

When the bell rang after ten rounds, Ford’s discipline and sharp punching carried the day. The judges’ scorecards—96-94 and two at 97-93—reflected a contest that was competitive but ultimately clear in Ford’s favour. Jubilant but measured in his celebration, Ford improved his record to 18-1-1 (8 KOs), a trajectory that now sets him up for further opportunities among the division’s very top. Nova, now 24-4-1 (17 KOs), left the ring disappointed but not at all disgraced, having contributed to a fight whose nuances and momentum shifts rewarded close attention and deep appreciation of the sport’s finer points.

While the fight didn’t carry the drama of knockdowns or the volatility of late reversals, it showcased Ford’s maturation and the technical prowess that long marked him as a talent to watch. His ability to balance aggression and defence made the difference, even against a persistent, physically larger Nova who never stopped searching for the one punch that might change the night. Ford’s performance on the undercard of such a significant event reinforces his place as a contender at super featherweight, and discussions now turn naturally to possible title eliminators, or a renewed push for full world honours against names like O’Shaquie Foster or a resurgent Anthony Cacace, should the Irishman return to full fitness.