Ray Ford vs Abraham Nova: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

Ever since suffering a stinging split-decision loss to Nick Ball in June 2024, Ray Ford has been hell-bent in getting back to being a world champion.

Ford continues that pursuit Saturday night when he clashes with Abraham Nova in a super featherweight tilt at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

After losing the WBA featherweight world title to Ball last year, Ford (17-1-1, 8 KOs) has produced two straight points victories at super featherweight including his unanimous decision over Thomas Mattice in April.

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Meanwhile, Nova (23-3-1, 16 KOs) is trying to work his way through a downturn, having lost two straight fights followed by a split-decision draw with Humberto Galindo in November.

A solid performance could put the winner in line for a title shot at 130 pounds and so DAZN News' Mark Lelinwalla analyzes who has the edge between Ford and Nova here.

Boxing Styles

Ray Ford is a southpaw who asserts the jab with snap on it before walking opponents down.

For a fighter who possesses an abundance of sweet science skills with a sharp ring IQ, Ford certainly enjoys fighting on the inside. Thus the rink moniker ‘Savage.’

Well, he might have to bring out the latter considering Abraham Nova’s own penchant to apply pressure and mix things up on the inside.

The Puerto Rican fighter will need to get Ford off the front foot to have success and might be able to do it if he times a counter overhand right.

If not, the Camden, New Jersey product Ford could rely on his boxing skills to pick Nova apart.

Edge: Ford

Power

When Ray Ford evokes the ‘Savage,’ he is potent enough to beat opponents up on the inside, dropping them and even knocking them out as he did with his thrilling 12^th-round TKO of Otabek Kholmatov in March 2024.

That said, he is more of a sharp marksman than power puncher with nine of his 17 wins being produced by points.

Nova, on the other hand, takes more chances and swings more wildly, having tallied 16 of his 23 wins by knockout.

Though those chances can sometimes put him in harm’s way, the power is there.

Edge: Nova

Mental Warfare

There is an adjustment to be made any time an opponent is replaced.

Ford was originally supposed to clash with Anthony Cacace before an injury paved way for Nova to slide into that spot.

But while Ford is back on the uptick with two straight victories, Nova is winless in his last three bouts having lost two before fighting Galindo to that split draw in November.

Ford carries the momentum.

Edge: Ford

Who has the edge in Ford vs Nova?

Ever since experiencing a stinging split-decision loss to Ball in June 2024, Ford has been every bit the ‘Savage’ in rebuilding a campaign toward a title shot with two unanimous decision wins.

And there is confidence that comes with that, leading Ford to this moment.

DAZN News has the 2-1 edge residing with Ford and a win here could propel him to a world title opportunity in a new division.

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