Friday, April 19, 2024  |

News

Aficianado

Raymond Ford outpoints Eric Manriquez in Braekhus-McCaskill opener

Raymond Ford lands a jab on Eric Manriquez during their bout on the Matchroom boxing fight card on August 15, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Fighters Network
15
Aug

Undefeated featherweight Raymond Ford picked apart Eric Manriquez over six rounds.

The bout served as the opener to a five-bout DAZN card headlined by the undisputed welterweight championship fight between undefeated Cecilia Braekhus and unified junior welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill on the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ford, who improved to 6-0 with two knockouts, floored Manriquez in the third round en route to the unanimous decision win.

Judge Gerald Ritter scored the fight 59-54, while Henry Ellick Jesse Reyes each saw it 60-53, all for Ford.



In the first round, the southpaw Ford knocked Manriquez backed into the ropes with a left hand.

Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Ford was in control in the second round, but Manriquez managed to sneak in a counter right that got his attention.

Ford connected with a sharp right hook that dropped Manriquez in the third round. He went for the knockout but was unable to finish the job, as Manriquez, who appeared more frustrated than hurt.

The best punch of the night for Manriquez came in the fourth round when he switched to the southpaw stance and smacked Ford with a left hand. Ford recovered quickly and went back to using his jab and lining up his opponent for the straight left hand.

“It wasn’t my best performance,” Ford admitted. “I know I could have done a lot better. It took a while for me to warm up. It is what it is.”

According to Compubox, Ford landed 50 of 170 punches (29 percent). Manriquez connected just 21 of 142 blows (15 percent).

Manriquez picked up the pace in the fifth round, but he had a hard time connecting on Ford, who circled around the ring, never allowing himself to be an easy target.

Manriquez swung wildly with a left hand in the sixth round and missed terribly, stumbling into the ropes. The remainder of the action was dictated by Ford, who used his jab from the outside and cruised for a comfortable victory.

Manriquez (7-11-1, 3 KOs), 29, of Houston, Texas, has lost five bouts in a row. 

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS