Otabek Kholmatov is keen to avenge his lone career defeat.

A mere seven seconds was the difference between a WBA featherweight title and his unblemished record still intact, and the knockout loss he was dealt at the hands of Raymond Ford. Kholmatov was ahead on two of the three scorecards before Ford rallied hard to rock the Uzbek southpaw late and force the stoppage in their March 2 thriller at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

The bout was the last to date for the 26-year-old Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KOs), who is now ready to pick up exactly where he left off.

“Shall we do it again,” Kholmatov openly asked Ford on Wednesday evening via social media. “I want revenge.”

Kholmatov—who is based in the greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida area—was put on the fast track to contention. He won a pair of title eliminators versus previously unbeaten contenders, beginning with a March 2022 twelve-round decision over Andranik Grigorian (14-0 at the time) in Orlando, Florida.

The win came in just Kholmatov’s tenth fight and nine months into his pro career. He cemented his place as a top contender with a fifth-round knockout of Thomas Patrick Ward (33-0-1 at the time) last March 4 on the road in Newcastle, England.

Ford (16-1-1, 8 KOs) marked Kholmatov’s third unbeaten opponent in four fights, all three which came in scheduled twelve-round contests. The Camden, New Jersey-bred southpaw lost the WBA title in his next fight and has since moved up to junior lightweight.

Kholmatov is ready to follow him up the scale—even if just as a starting point to punch his way back into contention, whether at featherweight or junior lightweight.

“2025—big comeback year,” vowed Kholmatov.