This weekend, Angelo Leo's maiden IBF featherweight world title defence in Osaka kickstarts a busy boxing month across Japan featuring seven world title fights across six weight divisions.

A week today, a junior-lightweight matchup will be of particular interest to Eddie Hearn and one American former champion he proudly promotes in Raymond Ford (17-1-1, 8 KOs).

Ford, who lost the WBA featherweight strap via split decision against Liverpool's Nick Ball last June, has since moved up to 130 pounds and produced a pair of dominant 10-round decision victories over Orlando Gonzalez and most recently, Thomas Mattice on April 12.

The 26-year-old southpaw spoke eagerly of a desire to face a series of names, from Lamont Roach Jr (25-1-2, 10 KOs) and O'Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) - champions in their own right - to WBC's No. 1-ranked featherweight contender Bruce Carrington later down the line.

As far as what's next for the New Jersey native, Hearn believes it makes sense to match him up with the victor of Wednesday's title fight.

Japan's Masanori Rikiishi (16-1, 11 KOs) faces another contender in Hearn's Matchroom stable with heavy-handed Eduardo Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) on away soil seeking a championship belt vacated by the in-form Anthony Cacace earlier this year.

Ford, currently ranked No. 4 by the WBC, No. 5 by WBA and IBF and No. 7 with the WBO, could find himself manoeuvred into a favourable position for a voluntary defence before the year's end.

"I believe Nunez wins out in Japan - he's just a beast - then I want to make Nunez against Ford, that's the fight to make," Hearn told The Ring.

"It's one of the best matchups, I really believe we've got the number one and two at 130, so yeah I'd like to put that together."

Without wanting to tempt fate by talking as though a Nunez victory is already a foregone conclusion, in what represents a career-best challenge for both men, it's safe to say Hearn believes in his man.

Since a UD6 defeat by Hiram Gallardo in June 2018, Nunez won 17 consecutive fights all inside the distance in his native Mexico. His last two outings were away trips, stopping former IBF titleholder Shavkat Rakhimov (17-2-1, 14 KOs) in Tajikistan before longtime contender Miguel Marriaga was retired in California after six completed rounds in August.

Rikiishi has steadily built himself back after being thrust into the proverbial fire three fights into his pro career, suffering a second-round stoppage loss by then 16-4 pro Kosuke Saka.

He's on a five-fight knockout streak, including Yoshimitsu Kimura and Ricardo Nunez - who've both moved up divisions since - as well as former Cacace opponent Michael Magnesi, victories aging better with time.

On how a Nunez-Ford matchup would look, Hearn added: "The thing is, people think Eduardo is just a puncher but no, he's technically very good too. Ray is a master boxer and, even now, still massively underrated so that makes for a great fight."