Raymond Ford vs Thomas Mattice Preview April 12th, 2025
Former WBA Featherweight Champion Raymond Ford of Camden, New Jersey is back in the ring this Saturday, April 12th when he takes on Thomas Mattice of Cleveland, Ohio. The 10-round junior lightweight fight from Atlantic City, New Jersey can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Ford won his featherweight belt in March, 2024 with a dramatic last round TKO over Otabek Kholmatov with just seven seconds to go in the fight while trailing on two of the three scorecards 106-103. However, he lost the title in his first defence when he dropped a controversial split decision to Nick Ball last June. He rebounded from that setback with a shutout 10-round unanimous over Orlando Gonzalez in his last outing in November. Mattice last saw action in September when he dropped a six-round technical decision to Eduardo Hernandez. The fight was stopped after six rounds as Hernandez couldn’t continue due to a clash of heads which caused a severe cut over his left eye.
Ford vs Mattice Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Thomas Mattice +700
- Raymond Ford -1250
My Pick
Ford is a 26-year-old southpaw who owns a fine record of 16-1-1 with 8 Ko’s. He turned pro back in 2019 and has 123 rounds of experience to his name. Ford enjoyed a fine amateur career which saw him win the 2018 U.S. National Golden Gloves Championships and take silver at the 2017 and 2018 National Championships. Since turning pro he’s beaten every opponent other than Ball and Aaron Perez, who went the distance with him in an eight-round draw in 2021.
Ford won the vacant WBA Continental Featherweight Title in 2021 when he stopped Reece Bellotti in the third round and added the vacant IBF North American Featherweight Belt with a 10-round unanimous decision over Richard Medina in June, 2022. He stands 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 69-inch reach and carries average power in his punches as 50 per cent of his wins have come by knockout, including just two of his last six victories. He also has wins over former world champion Jessie Magdaleno and Edward Vazquez.
The 34-year old Mattice makes the ring walk with a mark of 22-4-1 with 17 Ko’s and has 150 rounds of pro experience under his belt since making his debut in 2014 following a good amateur career. He measures 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 73-inch reach for a two-inch height advantage over Ford as well as a four-inch edge in reach. As far as power goes, he has plenty of it as 77.3 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including seven of his past eight.
Mattice’s first loss came to Will Madera via an eight-round unanimous decision in 2019 and he dropped a 10-round majority decision to former world champion Issac Cruz in 2020. His then dropped an eight-round unanimous decision to Luis Melendez in 2021 and lost his last fight to Eduardo Hernandez. His lone draw was an eight-round affair with Zhora Hamazaryan in 2018.
Mattice won the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight Belt in 2019 with an eighth-round TKO over Michael Dutchover and he added the WBC Continental Americas Super Featherweight Crown in 2022 via a 10-round unanimous decision over Christian Tapia and he defended it last year with a 10th-round TKO over Ramiro Cesena. He also has wins over Cesar Juarez and Jessie Cris Rosales.
Prediction…
Ford is eight years younger than Mattice but gives up height, reach and power. However he has better boxing skills and still possesses enough power to do some damage. Ford has the edge in overall boxing talent and IQ and I think this will be enough to lead him to victory. Mattice has a solid chin though so there’s a chance this fight goes the distance.
Ford should prevail due to his superior boxing skills.
Play: Ford -1250 @ BetOnline.ag
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Raymond Ford betting • Thomas Mattice betting