“I am happy and excited to fight at home for the first time as a world champion,” said Foster. “It’s a dream come true. We will be 1,000 percent prepared, and we will dominate from round one.”
Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs) doesn’t see this as a step up, but a continuation. His stoppage of Otabek Kholmatov to win a featherweight title showed he is comfortable going into tight situations and finding a way out late. Since moving to 130, he’s stayed busy and moved quickly into position, and he’s been upfront about how he sees this fight.
“I’m just glad he finally signed the contract,” Ford said. “When it came down to it, I was the biggest fight there for him, and now it’s time to fight, and I can’t wait for it. He’s a good name for my record, and I take that belt on May 30 and become a two-weight world champion.”
The two already had a moment at ringside in Phoenix in March, and that exchange carried over into the build for this fight. Promoter voices leaned into the idea that Ford has done this on the road before, and that it could happen again.
“O’Shaquie is a fantastic boxer, always in exciting fights, and a worthy world ruler,” said Eddie Hearn. “But we’ve been here before. Ray stopped a Top Rank fighter to become champion in enemy territory, and on May 30th, we believe lightning strikes twice and ‘Savage’ gets the belt on a magical night in Texas.”
Top Rank’s Todd duBoef pointed more to Foster’s recent form while acknowledging the edge between the two.
“O’Shaquie Foster solidified his place among the division’s elite by demolishing Stephen Fulton in December,” said duBoef. “Now he will defend his crown on his home turf against another former world champion in Raymond Ford. There has been a lot of animosity between the two recently, and we expect Foster to put it to rest with a dominant performance on May 30.”
Foster tries to establish a second run that lasts. Ford is trying to cut into it before it lays down. That tension does most of the work here.
