On August 31st 37 year old veteran MMA fighter turned professional boxer Ryan Ford had landed his biggest fight to date. After plying his trade in Germany and Russia the past two years taking on top prospects on their own turf, Ford was coming off a highlight reel knockout and had picked up a minor WBC belt along the way.
This time he was taking his 16-4 record to the O2 Arena to challenge Matchroom’s biggest prospect Joshua Buatsi for the WBA International title on the Lomachencko-Campbell undercard. Having never been stopped before, the plan was for Ford’s durability to give Buatsi some rounds – and that’s precisely what was happening until the 7th round when this exchange happened:
https://twitter.com/RyanFordBoxing/status/1168597917281603584
Ford goes down to the canvas holding his groin while referee Robert Williams, a 15 year professional counts to 10 and says he saw nothing wrong with the punch. Ford was understandably unhappy with the result as he now has a knockout on his record which he feels should be overturned. Not an unreasonable proposition considering the video replay as well as the fact that in the very next fight hometown favourite Charlie Edwards had his KO loss changed to a no-contest after a late hit ended his night early.
In a September 6th Instagram post Ford stated his team made efforts to contact the British Boxing Board of Control which was followed up by a September 9th post stating:
We Have Received A Formal Letter Back From The British Boxing Of Control Stating They Will Be Brininging The Issue Up At Their Wednesday Meeting. Our Letter Stated FACTS Of Outlining Their Rules Aswell As 2 Different Videos Angles. Now We Wait……
A week later Ford read the BBBofC’s response in another video post which stated:
We have considered your correspondence and advice from those in attendance at the fight and can see no reason to alter the decision of the contest. No complaints were registered at the time of the bout to the BBBofC therefore the board will not be taking the matter any further.
Ford goes on to state he spoke with an official after the fight who stated they needed to send off a written formal complaint – something that’s already purported to have been done.
A follow up reply from the BBBofC was posted which came off as equally dismissive:
There has been some bad press in the UK surrounding their commission’s recent handling of the Dillian Whyte’s scandal where the heavyweight contender was allowed to fight after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs all while his opponent Oscar Rivas was left uninformed of the transgression.
Given the circumstances we’re left wondering if the WBA is within their right to step in as the WBC had done for Charlie Edwards. If Ryan Ford is paying sanctioning fees to you know, sanction the fight then section 2a of their bylaws should compel them to act on the wronged boxer’s behalf:
