Undefeated WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) had a harder time than anticipated, scoring a tenth-round knockout in a voluntary protection in opposition to veteran Ronny Rios (34-5, 17 KOs) within the headliner on Saturday night time in entrance of a Ball’s followers on the M&S Financial institution Area in Liverpool, England.
The 5’2″ Ball was throughout Rios from the primary spherical, battering him with seemingly nonstop punches to the top and roughing him up. Within the third, Ball knocked Rios, 34, down with a left to the top after trapping him in opposition to the ropes. Ball’s nostril was bloodied within the spherical and bled for the rest of the struggle.
Ball confirmed that he can take shot tonight, as he obtained hit laborious by Rios, whose energy was larger than his personal. The physique photographs and the punches to the top that Rios landed on Ball tonight have been like that of a middleweight. Ball took them, however his nostril seemed fully gone.
Rios got here again and fought effectively in rounds 4 by six, hitting Ball laborious with jabs to the nostril and bodyshots. The punches to the physique have been very laborious and clearly bothered Ball, who winced at occasions and bent ahead in response to the ache.
Within the sixth, Ball got here flying out of his nook, hitting Rios with every part however the kitchen sink, making an attempt to attain a knockout. Nonetheless, he failed to take action, and Rios got here again robust within the shut seconds to nail Ball with photographs to the nostril, sending blood all over the place. Ball seemed like a bloody mess as he walked again to his nook. Even the referee’s shirt was stained with blood after the spherical.
Within the tenth, Ball hit Rios with a punch behind the top, then shoved him to the ropes and unloaded with a storm of punches that despatched him out of the ring. Rios was then helped by the ropes again into the ring by the referee. Nonetheless, Rios’ nook opted to not have the competition halted at that time. The time of the stoppage was at 2:06 of the tenth.
It was victory for Ball, however undoubtedly not a straightforward one for him as a result of he took some huge photographs by Rios that may have knocked out lots of fighters.
“It was a particular feeling. I wish to thank everybody of them that got here out to assist me and purchased tickets. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing with out them,” stated Nick Ball to TNT Sports activities after the struggle, speaking in regards to the crowd who had come to see him dwell to defend in opposition to Rios tonight.
“Simply those with the opposite belts. I’ve obtained one of many 4. There are the opposite three on the market,” stated Ball when requested if he desires to face WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas in a rematch subsequent. “I’m coming for the belts. it will be good to get them
