World champion Ball punishes Rios in homecoming win

A bloodied Nick Ball defended his WBA featherweight world title in his hometown with a tough 10th round knockout victory over Ronny Rios at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

The 27-year-old intimidated the American challenger, landing powerful combinations and flooring Rios in the third and seventh.

Ball had to deal with blood coming from his nose from the start of the fight, but a flurry of punches caused Rios, 34, to fall from the ring before the towel was thrown in.

“I always get a nosebleed, it’s boxing, your nose is going to bleed a little, it’s what makes champions,” Ball said.

A stone’s throw from his home, Kirkby-born Ball won his third fight of 2024 and affirmed his status as one of the best featherweights in the world.

“To be honest, I think it was all because of how good the crowd was, I thought I had eliminated him and I was wrong. I tuned out, I left myself open,” said Ball, whose last two fights took place in Saudi Arabia.

“That’s what we train for, taking them out. Congratulations to him, he caught me with some on the nose.”

‘Wrecking Ball’ intimidates Ríos into submission

The arena had limited capacity and most of the upper level was closed, but attendees gave ‘Wrecking Ball’ a ecstatic hero’s welcome as he walked through the ring.

Ball debuted in a Liverpool nightclub in 2017 but had not fought in the city for more than four years. He launched himself into the ring instead of giving himself time to savor the moment.

At just 5-foot-3, what pressure fighter Ball lacks in height he makes up for in relentless style, which was clear from the start.

He outmaneuvered Rios, with the challenger covering up as left and right hooks landed on the temple and nimble uppercuts slipped through the upper guard.

The Californian withstood the attack and drew blood from Ball’s nose in the second, but the local fighter’s intensity and power continued as he dropped Rios with a short left hook in the third.

Ríos, a seasoned campaigner, made his debut in 2008, but was competing for only the second time in two years.

He returned to the contest with a right hook in the fifth when Ball, hampered by his nose, his torso and shorts reddened, showed signs of slowing.

Rios complained about a knockdown in the seventh after going down easily when Ball threw a left hook.

One round later, however, there were no complaints after another attack by Ball. Ríos stood up and as the referee considered whether the fight should continue, he threw in the towel.

What’s next for Ball?

Liverpool has a rich history of producing boxing champions such as John Conteh, Tony Bellew and Natasha Jonas, and Ball now flies the city’s flag on the world stage.

After a Controversial tie with WBC champion Rey Vargas in March, impressed with a points victory over Raymond Ford in May to become world champion and flourished on his return home.

Ball now aims for unification fights. Rafael Espinoza has the WBO title and Angelo Leo is the IBF champion, but there is still unfinished business with WBC titleholder Vargas.

“I would like to fight Vargas, get the green and gold belt (WBC),” he said.

Former world champion Stephen Fulton has been named Ball’s mandatory challenger following his move up in weight, while Ball also dreams of facing Japan’s undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.

A victory over Inoue, nicknamed ‘The Monster’ for his 25 knockouts in 28 wins, would be difficult, but would propel Ball to the top of the pound-for-pound list, as well as global stardom.

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