Nick Ball Wins Split Decision Over WBA Champ Raymond Ford
Nick “The Wrecking” Ball (20-0-1, 11KO) is the new WBA featherweight champion after defeating Raymond “Savage” Ford (15-1-1, 8KO).
Savage went to the body early and landed the more precise punches. He worked behind the jab and landed the straight right hand.
The Wrecking Ball did what he was supposed to do as the shorter man and applied relentless pressure. He forced Ford against the ropes and threw punches in bunches. The majority of those punches were blocked but looked effective to the judges.
Ford was letting the fight get away but turned things around with a punishing left hook. Seeing his opponent’s nose pouring blood like a faucet, the WBA champion went on the attack with precise combination punches in the middle rounds.
In the championship rounds, Ball continued to come forward landing those left uppercuts. Ford found a groove and boxed behind the jab before attacking the body. He even landed a painful uppercut that momentarily stunned Ball.
It was a photo finish as both men slugged it out until the final bell sounded. In the end, one judge scored it 115-113 for Ford, as the other two saw it 115-113 for Ball.
