O’Shaquie Foster and Raymond Ford will face off in a Houston grudge match, which Foster aims to build toward a future fight with Shakur Stevenson.
Foster, the WBC junior lightweight titleholder, will face Ford on May 30 at the Fertitta Center in Houston.
Foster, 24-3 (12 KOs), will be fighting for the first time as a titleholder in his hometown of Houston. Ford, 18-1 (8 KOs), also trains in Houston and notably trains with Stevenson, the former lightweight titleholder and current WBO junior welterweight titleholder. In fact, Ford is trained by Stevenson’s cousin, Tarae Stevenson. Foster and Shakur Stevenson have gone back and forth on the internet, which fans have hoped would lead to a fight.
In December, Foster defeated Stephen Fulton Jnr in a bout originally scheduled as a WBC junior lightweight title defense, but in the 11th hour, it was recategorized as a WBC interim lightweight bout. Fulton was cornered by “Bozy” Ennis, the father and trainer of Jaron “Boots” Ennis. This fight reminds Foster of clashing with another top-notch team.
“I feel like I am going against Shakur and his camp,” Foster said at the press conference. “Across the ring, I want to see everybody who is over there helping you. That is the motivation. All of you are going to be crying together, you are going to be hurt together.”
Ford, 27, is a former WBA featherweight titleholder who lost his belt to Nick Ball in 2024. After losing the title, he moved up to junior lightweight, notching three wins in his new weight class. Ford won a unanimous decision over Abraham Nova in August. Foster made his first title defense against Nova in 2024, winning a spirited split decision that Ford referenced repeatedly at the press conference. Foster countered by pointing out that Ford has yet to record a knockout in his new weight class.
“I feel like all that tough shit is fake,” Foster said. “You didn’t even knock out the guys you came up [in weight] and fought that aren’t on my level.”
Ford, originally from Camden, New Jersey, was more concise with his words, explaining his recent victories over Nova, Thomas Mattice and Orlando Gonzalez.
“I have been trying to fight all these dudes,” Ford said. “These are the people who are taking the fight. It isn’t my fault.”
Foster alluded to a willingness to move up after this bout, seemingly with no hesitation to jump in against the best in the division.
“I don’t need any tune-ups going up to 135lbs or 140lbs,” Foster said. “After I smash you, I am going to show you how to go up [in weight] and fight champions, not go up and fight Joe Blows. I am going to show you how to do it for real.”
A mild-mannered Ford was simple in his closing remarks.
“He can’t fuck with me,” Ford said. “That’s just what it is.”
The 32-year-old Foster outlined his plan for after the bout. He is angling to face Stevenson.
“I don’t want to hear any pump-faking after the fight,” Foster said. “After I handle you, I don’t want to hear anything. I am going straight to [Stevenson].”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
