Foster realizes he accepted a legitimate challenge May 30 in Houston. The WBC super featherweight champion also assured Ford he’ll prove he is levels above the former WBA featherweight titleholder when they square off in a 12-round main event DAZN will stream from Fertitta Center, on the campus of the University of Houston.

“I labeled him a five cuz I feel like he a decent fighter,” Foster said during a press conference at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. “I feel like he a good fighter, but I feel Imma show him what a great fighter looks like when they get in there with me.”

The slightly favored Foster, 32, is ranked second among The Ring’s contenders for a vacant 130-pound championship. Ford, 27, is ranked sixth, yet Foster isn’t sure the southpaw from Camden, New Jersey is better than two of the most accomplished opponents he has defeated during his 13-year pro career – two-division champions Rey Vergas and Stephen Fulton.

“Imma put him five because he hasn’t done nothing,” Foster said. “He won a title and then he lost it. And he hasn’t regained it.”

Ford dramatically won the WBA 126-pound championship in March 2024, when he rallied from three-point deficits on two scorecards to stop Otabek Kholmatov late in the 12th round in Verona, N.Y. The Ring named Ford-Kholmatov its “Fight of the Year” 10 months later.

England’s Nick Ball beat Ford (18-1-1, 9 KOs) by split decision in his following fight, which led Ford to move up to junior lightweight. He has won each of his three 130-pound bouts by unanimous decision, but Foster questioned Ford’s overall level of opposition.

Foster (24-3, 12 KOs) – an Orange, Texas native who resides and trains in Houston – is 14-1 since Ronald Chinea edged him by split decision in July 2016. He avenged his only loss during that stretch, a split decision to Robson Conceicao, when he won their immediate rematch by split decision in November 2024.

Foster dominated Fulton in his last fight, a unanimous points win December 6 in San Antonio. That victory earned Foster the WBC interim lightweight title, but only because Fulton came in two pounds overweight for their 130-pound championship clash and the WBC strangely sanctioned Foster-Fulton as a lightweight title fight.

“I’m a three-time champion, two-time, whatever y’all wanna say,” Foster said. “Three-time, two-time, don’t worry about it. Either way, hey, I’m handling my business. So, I’m rating you a five because you ain’t done nothing in the sport. You’re a good fighter, but I’m a great fighter.”