Nova steps in to face Ford on Aug. 16

Abraham Nova has answered the call after Anthony Cacace’s exit

Mike Coppinger reports that, with Anthony Cacace out of commission, Raymond Ford will instead face Abraham Nova on Riyadh Season’s August 16th Itauma vs Whyte show.

Per Ford (17-1-1, 8 KO), who is 2-0 at 130 since leaving the featherweight division on the heels of a close lose to Nick Ball, WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster turned down the same offer. Foster is slated to face Stephen Fulton that same day on the Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr 2 undercard, but the entire show remains in flux after Davis’ recent arrest for domestic violence.

Nova (24-3-1, 17 KO) is a decent alternative considering the circumstances. Though he sits at 1-2-1 in his last four, those defeats came in close bouts with division standouts Foster and Andres Cortes. He’ll be the most accomplished super featherweight foe of Ford’s career and should make for a good scrap.

The rest of the undercard, including Ball vs Sam Goodman and Filip Hrgovic vs David Adeleye, remains intact.