Hulu Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York City - Unbeaten up and comer Raymond Ford got a fight from Felix Caraballo, but the New Jersey product ultimately broke down and stopped the gutsy Puerto Rican in the eighth round to retain his WBA Continental Americas featherweight title.

Ford went on the attack early, throwing flashy combinations that Caraballo largely blocked, and late in the round, the Puerto Rican began countering his foe, drawing a roar from the crowd as a fight broke out. In the second, Carabello did good work on the inside, but at long range, Ford’s jabs and combinations began finding their mark more often, drawing disdain from Caraballo, who waved the Camden product in for more.

Caraballo jarred Ford with a right hand late in the third frame, but Ford shook it off and he pair kept the pace high in the fourth, engaging in extended sequences of trading body punches in the center of the ring. By the fifth, Caraballo’s forward march wasn’t slowing, but Ford seemed to have a better read on it, as he scored from the outside and also traded on the inside when the mood struck.

As the bout wore on, Ford’s lead grew, with Caraballo even getting a look from the ringside physician. The Puerto Rican’s response was to blitz his opponent, but Ford welcomed the battle as he had throughout, and finally, in the eighth, his body attack took its final toll, with Caraballo’s corner letting referee Ricky Gonzalez know that their man had enough. The official time of the stoppage was 2:10 of round eight.

Ford moves to 10-01, 5 KOs with the win. Caraballo falls to 13-4-2, 9 KOs.