Nick Ball thrilled a partizan crown on his Liverpool homecoming, stopping experienced American Ronny Rios in 10 rounds to retain his WBA featherweight title.
Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) was boxing in his home city for the first time in four-and-half years and also making a maiden defence of the belt he ripped from Raymond Ford in a high-class encounter in Riyadh in June.
That bout followed a controversial draw with Rey Vargas, who Ball called out afterwards. Rios (34-5, 17 KOs) also faced the Mexican in one of his previous two world title tilts back in 2017 but the brave 34-year-old was not in the class of Ball's most recent opponents.
WATCH: Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios, exclusively on ESPN+
It showed as the champion, 27, tore out of the blocks and meted out relentless punishment before scoring a knockdown in round three. Rios was down again, a little more untidily in the seventh, by which point his astute body attack had at least gained him a foothold in the contest.
"I got a bit carried away with the crowd and got hit with a few too many shots," an elated Ball told TNT Sport afterwards, dabbing at a bloodied nose. However, the end was emphatic when it came, with a bedraggled Rios punched through the ropes and stopped.
Nick Ball gives everything for the fans every single time 🩸👏#BallRios pic.twitter.com/ondmvN7Tmo
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) October 5, 2024
Whether there is the chance to settle a score with Vargas next or a WBA mandatory against former super-bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton, Ball's high-octane thrills will mean a devilishly tough night for whoever is in the opposite corner.
Ball quickly got to work, with his customary quick feet and hands making Rios's five-inch reach advantage instantly moot. A left uppercut followed by a hook had Rios momentarily disorganised in his own corner before the midway point of the opener. The challenger's seconds urged him to "go to work" but Ball scarcely allowed him time to breathe, steadying the American with another roundhouse left.
Early in the second, Ball looked to bring in a bowling overhand right off the left uppercut but it was shorter, straight shots that got a reaction from Rios in centre ring. The American showed a flash of his pedigree with a left hook to the liver but shipped another clattering uppercut and follow-up hooks from the swarming, switch-hitting threshing machine in front of him.
Ball ended a dominant second with some blood on his nose, possibly from a couple of the crisp jabs Rios managed in the final thirty seconds to punctuate the onslaught.
Those brief successes thrust the challenger into a third-round ordeal as he flicked out a lazy jab and Ball thumped his chin with a left hook. Forced to cover up as the champ unloaded uppercut-laced combinations, Rios eventually went to the floor.
Nick Ball gives everything for the fans every single time 🩸👏#BallRios pic.twitter.com/ondmvN7Tmo
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) October 5, 2024
He dutifully rose for more punishment — at one stage Ball uncorked three successive right uppercuts as the home crowd lapped up their hero in Rocky mode. But to focus on Ball's box-office thirst for violence overlooks his excellent punch-picking and distance control. He was far too accurate from a variety of angles for Rios to indulge in the idea that the Liverpudlian would punch himself out as pulverising one-way traffic continued in round four.
The fifth was Rios' best of the contest, as he began to put shots together off the jab and whipped a couple to the midsection. Ball's bloodied nose required work from his corner at the end of the session, when he was instructed to tidy things up and bring more of his work to the body. Nevertheless, an uppercut through the guard that pogoed Rios's head back and a winging overhand right marked the champion's most eye-catching work of the session.
Rios protested over a knockdown called early in round seven, when Ball landed a left hook before what also looked like a shove as feet tangled. Either way, it appeared to rob Rios of his gallant resistance and the end looked near as Ball unloaded in the red corner.
A cuffing left hook from Rios briefly caused Ball to pause and smile before pummelling his foe until the bell. Those exertions persuaded Ball to briefly shift down the gears and Rios found success to the body in eight. By the next round, Ball's attacks had become more sporadic but no less ruthless.
Just when it looked like Rios might get to box the championship distance, Ball applied the finish with a brilliant two-card trick. Instead of attacking at 100 mph, the champion popped his under-rated jab, varying the height nicely and setting the range with his feet. Fixated on the left lead, Rios allowed a right hook onto his jaw. The familiar lead uppercut followed and a decisive flurry punched Rios out of the ring.
He scrambled under the bottom rope and, despite being heavily dazed, somehow returned to his feet. Mercifully, the American's corner had thrown in their blood-stained towel to bring the end after two minutes and six seconds of the 10th
NICK BALL IS WORLD CLASS! 🥊🏆 #BallRios pic.twitter.com/zhSmTWQyne
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) October 5, 2024
Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios fight card
- Nick Ball (c) bt. Ronny Rios (TKO 10/12) for the WBA featherweight title
- Jack Rafferty bt. Henry Turner (RTD 9/12) to win the vacant British and retain the Commonwealth super lightweight titles
- Andrew Cain bt. Lazaro Casseres (TKO 2/10); Bantamweights
- Jadier Herrera bt. Oliver Flores (TKO 3/10); Lightweights
- James McGivern bt. Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (PTS 8); Lightweights
- Brad Strand bt. Marvin Solano (KO 6/8); Super Bantamweights
- Jack Turner vs. Gonzalo Corinaldesi; Bantamweights
- Nelson Birchall bt. Mark Butler (TKO 3/6); Super Featherweights
- Boma Brown bt. Amine Boucetta (KO 6/6); Heavyweights
Where to watch Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios
- Channel/live stream: ESPN+
Fight fans can watch Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $10.99 on a monthly subscription and $109.99 on an annual subscription.
WATCH: Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios, exclusively on ESPN+
Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios start time
- Date: Saturday, October 5
- Time: 2 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. PT
- Main event start time (approx.): 5:30 p.m. ET | 2:30 p.m. PT
- Location: M&S Bank Arena - Liverpool, England
The Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios fight card starts at 2 p.m. ET. Both main event fighters should make their way to the ring around 5:30 p.m., depending on how long the undercard fights last.
