Joshua Buatsi Knocks Out Ford With Body Shot In Seventh Round

By Keith Idec

Ryan Ford tested Joshua Buatsi at times Saturday night, but Buatsi eventually became the first fighter to knock out the Canadian veteran.

Buatsi’s left hand to the body floored Ford early in the seventh round. Ford couldn’t get up from that shot, which knocked him out 1:07 into the seventh round of their light heavyweight fight on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Luke Campbell undercard at O2 Arena in London.

London’s Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs), a 26-year-old prospect who won an Olympic bronze medal in 2016, has won seven straight bouts by knockout. The 37-year-old Ford (16-5, 11 KOs), of Edmonton, Alberta, lost by knockout for the first time as a professional.

Each of his first four losses were 12-round, unanimous-decision defeats.

Ford had held his own before Buatsi knocked him out in the seventh round.

Buatsi’s left hook to Ford’s head knocked Ford backward, into the ropes, about 40 seconds into the seventh round. Ford tried to hold, but referee Robert Williams broke them up and afforded Buatsi all the room he needed to work.

Buatsi followed a right to the body with a left to the body, and Ford went down to his elbows and knees. Ford attempted to get up, but he fell over, onto his side, and was counted out.

Buatsi worked well off his jab early in the sixth round and landed several right hands. Ford continually countered Buatsi with right hands in the fifth round.

Buatsi succeeded with his straight right hand during the fourth round. He also defended himself better in that round.

Buatsi opened up on Ford in the first 30 seconds of the third round, but Ford blocked some of those shots. After missing a right uppercut, Buatsi got caught with an overhand right by Ford later in the third.

Ford’s looping right hand caught Buatsi to the side of his head about 30 seconds into the second round. Another right by Ford landed on Buatsi’s jaw about 45 seconds later.

Buatsi took his time throughout the first round while trying to get a feel for Ford and threw mostly jabs in those first three minutes.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.