O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC Super-Featherweight World title against Raymond Ford at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, May 30(DAZN), Matchroom Boxing announced on Thursday.
Houston-based Foster (24-3, 12 KOs) makes the first defense of the title in his second reign as the green and gold king at 130 pounds, having regained the belt in a rematch with Robson Conceicao in Turning Stone, NY, in November 2024 via split decision – having surrendered the strap in the same fashion four months earlier in New Jersey.
‘Ice Water’ clinically outpointed Stephen Fulton Jr in his last outing in December in San Antonio, and returns to a Matchroom card after serving up a fight of the year contender in October 2023 in the first defense in his initial reign as the WBC 130-pound boss when he went to Mexico and stood toe-to-toe with Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez, stopping the Mexican in the final round of a rollercoaster battle.
Ford (18-1-1 8 KOs) had a similarly spectacular night when he was coronated as the WBA champion at Super-Featherweight – crashing behind enemy lines and stopping out 126-pound boogeyman Otabek Kholmatov in a last-gasp triumph in Turning Stone in March 2024. ‘Savage’ is now arrowing in on becoming a two-weight World ruler and gets his shot at Foster, having won three fights at 130lbs since moving up to the weight, and moving to #2 in the WBC rankings.
The pair clashed ringside at the Navarrete-Nunez fight in Phoenix in March to add fuel to the flames of this fiery match-up, and now they will settle the score in Houston – and both men are confident of a big win in Texas.
“I’m happy and excited to fight at home for the first time as a World champion – it’s a dream come true,” said Foster. “We will be 1,000 percent prepared, and we will dominate from round one.”
“I’m just happy he finally signed the contract,” said Ford. “When it came down to it, I was the biggest fight out there for him, and now it’s time to fight, and I can’t wait for it. He’s a good name for my resume, and I’m taking that belt on May 30 and becoming a two-weight World champion.”
The undercard for this fight will be announced at a later date.
