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O’Shaquie Foster vows to show Ray Ford he ‘bit off more than he could chew’
O’Shaquie Foster fully believes getting past Ray Ford will grant him an opportunity to clash with Shakur Stevenson.
So, Foster plans on making a big statement tonight when he puts his WBC super featherweight title on the line against Ford at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas, and exclusively live worldwide on DAZN.
Heading into the fight, Foster has noted how close the Stevenson-Ford bond is as the New Jersey pair are sparring partners — just as Foster once was with Stevenson. That being said, the WBC’s 130-pound champ thinks Ford might have grossly miscalculated in agreeing to challenging for his title at the possible suggestion of Stevenson.
“You’re doing what he says, you’re doing whatever it is to protect him, you’re his son,” Foster told DAZN News about Ford taking Stevenson’s heed and being his front lines. “You’re trying to fight like him, you’re trying to be just like him.
“The way [Ford] talks in the game, he talks like he’s actually done something, like he’s Shakur,” Foster continued. “Or somebody that actually defended their title or won it back.”
Foster & Ford Prepare for War in Texas
To that point, Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs) is a former WBA featherweight world champion, having clinched the title in a thrilling 12th-round TKO of Otabek Kholmatov in March 2024, before dropping the strap via a split-decision loss to Nick Ball roughly three months later.
Since then, Ford has moved up to super featherweight and shown an aggressive, pressuring style in amassing three wins in his new digs, including a unanimous decision over Abraham Nova in August.
Meanwhile, Foster (24-3, 12 KOs) lost his WBC title to Robson Conceição in a controversial split decision in July 2024, only to win it back less than four months later before moving on to defend the strap.
The buildup to tonight’s fight has been contemptuous with Ford vowing to break Foster only for the champ to shove the challenger Tuesday during their first fight week faceoff. During their press conference faceoff Thursday, Ford returned the favor by pushing Foster.
Still, Foster is far from being sold that Ford is a ‘Savage’ and plans on dousing him with a reality check of ‘Ice Water’ in a homecoming fight in Houston.
“I just think like these guys get ahead of themselves,” Foster said of Ford and Stevenson, “and I’m gonna show him that he bit off more than he could chew.”
Many fights critics and fans thought Foster would be enveloped by Stephen Fulton’s slick boxing style back in December, only for ‘Shock’ to tender a sweet science masterclass of his own in a dominant unanimous decision. Another one-way showing would only raise Foster’s fight profile, furthering the knocking on WBO super lightweight champion Stevenson’s door.
“I feel like Fulton was my coming out party,” Foster said. “Now this is for me to stamp it and push myself to a whole new level, so I’m excited already.”
Installed as the slight favorite among oddsmakers, Foster vows nothing short of a “rude awakening” for Ford in a demonstration of how to tame a ‘Savage.’
Analysis: Will decisively defeating Ford lead O’Shaquie Foster to a showdown with Shakur Stevenson?
DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
If O’Shaquie Foster is dominant in defeating Ray Ford, delivering another statement win, the groundswell is going to be there for ‘Shock’ to challenge Shakur Stevenson next. And it should be as Ford is a quality fighter.
Stevenson vs. Foster has a built-in storyline already, considering they’re former sparring partners who have a noted history before their falling out. The high drama that the buildup would entail would bleed out in the ring in the form of a high-level chess match.
It’s as alluring of a fight as any in boxing, but one that cannot be cemented unless Foster defeats Ford convincingly tonight.
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