After the decision was announced, Foster (25-3, 12 KOs) went straight to WBO and Ring 140-pound champion Shakur Stevenson, who was ringside supporting Ford (18-2-1, 8 KOs). Stevenson entered the ring and went face-to-face with Foster and they had a heated verbal exchange before being separated by security.

In the post-fight interview, Foster, The Ring’s No. 2 junior lightweight, called for a fight against Stevenson or Emanuel Navarrete, the unified 130-pound champion and The Ring’s No. 1 junior lightweight.

Judge Chris Migliore scored the fight a draw 114-114, while Javier Alvarez had it 118-110 and Alan Krebs scored it 116-112 for Foster. The fight felt closer than Alvarez’s and Krebs’ scorecards, and many of the early rounds were tough to score. The CompuBox stats also backed that, as Foster narrowly outlanded Ford 106-99.

After a very tactical start, disaster nearly struck late in the first round. After Ford, The Ring’s No. 6 junior lightweight, missed with a jab, Foster turned and threw him through the ropes and to the floor below. Ford caught his fall with his gloves to avoid serious injury. Referee Jon Shorle gave the Orange, Texas, native a stern warning but didn't deduct any points.

Ford, 27, was more assertive offensively in the second round and landed the cleaner shots. Foster, 32, responded by going on the offensive to start the third round and landed the cleaner shots as he kept Ford at the end of his punches.

The ebbs and flows between the second and third rounds carried into the fourth, as both fighters had their moments as a high-level chess match began to unfold. Ford, of Camden, New Jersey, finished the round strong and landed a clean straight left hand with under 30 seconds left.

The fifth and sixth rounds were razor-thin, as both fighters had their moments. Both showed their skills offensively and defensively as very little separated them in the first half.

Foster began to show his championship mettle in the second half.

The seventh and eighth rounds were arguably Foster’s best, as he asserted himself as the aggressor and was able to force Ford to the ropes and land the cleaner shots. His defensive prowess also kept Ford from sustaining any offense. Ford’s punch output also diminished as Foster began to take control.

Ford fought with the desperation of a fighter who knew the fight was beginning to slip away in the ninth. The slick southpaw was back on the front foot and had more success compared to the previous two rounds. Foster also had success and landed a sharp counter straight right hand.

The 10th was fought much more in close quarters, though, which led to much more clinching. Ford started to get going late and landed clean power shots as he had Foster’s back to the ropes.

The fight felt like it was still up for grabs entering the final two rounds. Foster rose to the occasion in the 11th, connecting with eye-catching right hands that bloodied Ford’s nose and retook control.

Foster carried the momentum to begin the 12th, landing sharp right hands to the head and body in the first minute. Ford tried to get his offense going, but couldn’t sustain anything as Foster managed range well and avoided being caught by anything clean.