O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC junior lightweight title against Raymond Ford at the Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas on May 30.
The bout, which was long-rumored and first reported on Monday, was today officially confirmed by Matchroom Boxing and Top Rank.
Houston, Texas’ Foster, 24-3 (12 KOs), will make the first defense of his second reign as WBC boss. He regained the title in November 2024, beating Robson Conceicao via split decision to avenge the same result in their first fight, four months earlier.
The 32-year-old, whose nickname is “Ice Water”, officially – albeit inadvertently – stepped up to lightweight in his most recent bout – a convincing 12-round decision victory over Stephen Fulton in December. Though Foster weighed 130lbs, the junior lightweight limit, Fulton came in two pounds over and, curiously, the bout was sanctioned by the WBC as an interim affair at lightweight.
“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 per cent prepared, and we will dominate from round one.”
Camden, New Jersey’s Ford, 18-1-1 (8 KOs), is a former WBA ruler down at featherweight. The southpaw has won three since losing that belt to Nick Ball in June 2024. All of those subsequent wins, over Orlando Gonzalez, Thomas Mattice and Abraham Nova, came on points over 10 rounds.
“I’m just happy he finally signed the contract,” Ford, 27, said of Foster. “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.”
