When your manager is asked verbatim, "how on earth did you pull it off?' in regards to a lucrative fight abroad against world-class opposition, the odds of winning it can't exactly be very high.

A fortnight ago, that question was asked of Elliott Amoakoh and the Brit's unemotional response spoke for itself in briefly previewing Abraham Nova vs. Raymond Ford as part of the Moses Itauma-Dillian Whyte undercard streamed live on DAZN PPV come Aug. 16.

"[Anthony] Cacace pulled out, I got in conversation with the Matchroom guys and made it happen really. I'm a good guy to know for these boxers nowadays," he told Boxing King Media.

After an extensive amateur stint, Nova (24-3-1, 17 KOs) joined the paid ranks during the Olympic 2016 year while then-divisional rivals Gary Antuanne Russell and Richardson Hitchins faced off in the opening round of the Rio de Janeiro tournament.

Although both were left disappointed in South America that summer, they now hold versions of world championships less than a decade later in the same 140-pound division that hasn't had clarity since recently retired Josh Taylor became undisputed in 2021.

Nova operates two weight classes below at junior lightweight, but while possessing the frame and fundamentals to justify high standing among his peers, the 29-year-old's resume preceding 2022 only had one notable win: 11-1 contender Sulaiman Segawa.

Embracing the peaks and troughs as a road warrior, travelling to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Uruguay and Belgium for multiple bouts without a solidified promotional home would've helped a younger Nova experience life outside his comfort zone as a rising pro.

Yet he was largely matched favourably and seldom tested before getting to 21-0, which is perhaps why the New York resident was so publicly bullish about his chances of beating Robeisy Ramirez in June 2022.

He seemed offended at the suggestion their unofficial title eliminator was deemed a 50-50 contest, and five rounds later was laid out in a heap on the ropes after absorbing a sweeping left hand he didn't see coming.

Humble pie was served spectacularly with a first knockout loss against an even more well-schooled amateur — a two-time Olympic champion with more power to support a smaller frame.

Ramirez (14-3, 9 KOs), a former WBO world featherweight champion, finds himself in an unenviable rebuilding situation now after contrasting defeats by Rafael Espinoza a year apart, though he and Raymond Ford are southpaws.

"He's been doing Team Combat League and is in shape, hasn't been doing southpaw training but is a strong guy and bigger than Raymond — who is very skilled — he'll come and apply pressure, but pressure busts pipes so we'll see if he can do that here," Amoakoh said about Nova's suitability for the task without a full training camp, having accepted on a month's notice.

Ford (17-1-1, 8 KOs) might not pack one-punch knockout power but none of the 130-pound champions do. Instead, the New Jersey native's style lends itself to outboxing opponents at range, as has been the case since moving up from 126lbs.

He made his desire to face Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez no secret, having watched him claim the vacant IBF title with a commanding 12-round decision over Masanori Rikiishi on May 28.

That's why an in-form Cacace, who vacated the title to pursue more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, was seen as a more compelling matchup — even if Ford wasn't exactly thrilled by what he deemed a stay-busy fight.

Cacace, at 5ft 10in, is physically bigger than Nova and has elite names on his resume to justify why he'd back himself becoming the second UK fighter Ford came unstuck against after a narrow, competitive loss by Nick Ball last summer.

Nova rebuilt after the Ramirez loss with two victories over deceptively poor opposition before benefiting from a timely in-house matchup and maiden championship challenge against Top Rank-backed WBC titlist O'Shaquie Foster.

While their styles blended together to make an entertaining watch in February 2024, Nova faded physically after a purposeful start and his leaky defensive tendencies gave an inspired defending champion the impetus to finish strong.

Knowing Foster entered their encounter with a foot injury and sustained a biceps issue before the second-half began, that was Nova's best chance to claim gold.

Not even 18 months later, Foster-Ford could've been in the works for next month's show instead — Foster declined — so Nova steps into the breach knowing opportunities like this one are unlikely to arrive again.

Hard done by against unbeaten contender Andres Cortes four months later, he was held to a 10-round split draw with 14-3-2 pro Humberto Galindo in November and last seen stopping Mexican journeyman German Ivan Meraz after three rounds on June 7, if not counting his one-round outings on the TCL circuit.

It's not exactly ideal preparation for Ford, who looks at home in his new division and is refreshingly eager to stay relevant rather than wait on the sidelines. While Nova is no Cacace, the show must go on and given how he's fallen short previously, "El Super" must do something differently to trouble the younger man more than many have recently.