Raymond Ford dominates in junior lightweight debut, decisions Orlando Gonzalez

Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Raymond Ford lived up to his “Savage” nickname with a strong debut in the 130-pound division.

The former WBA featherweight titleholder dominated Orlando Gonzalez on Saturday, Nov. 9 en route to a ten round unanimous decision win at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Two judges scored it a clean shutout, 100-88, while the third found a round to give Gonzalez at 99-89, all for Ford (16-1-1, 8 knockouts) of nearby Camden, N.J.

The 25-year-old Ford, who was fighting for the first time at 130 pounds after competing four pounds below for the previous five years, scored knockdowns in the second and eighth rounds, both on right hooks, as he asserted himself more physically after years of struggling to make 126.

Ford was boxing for the first time since his first defeat, a split decision loss to Nick Ball in June. Ford looked as strong as he ever has, walking down his experienced opponent from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, fighting more consistently in the rounds after years of fighting in spurts due to his weight struggles.

Though Gonzalez appeared game early on, he abandoned all pretenses of winning the fight in the final two rounds, which drew the ire of Ford, who refused to touch gloves after the final bell.

Ford has called for a showdown with newly recrowned WBC junior lightweight champ O’Shaquie Foster, who is promoted by Top Rank.