Nick Ball, for a few of us, probably the most persistently thrilling fighter round right now, though to be truthful, Ball has not been on the world scene for too lengthy, has his ‘Homecoming’ struggle tonight in Liverpool in opposition to the seasoned Ronny Rios. Ball says he desires to placed on a present tonight and that his intention is to maintain on proving he’s the most effective featherweight on this planet. To do that, Ball desires to unify the belts at 126 kilos, and that is the plan for subsequent 12 months.
One other struggle that retains on getting talked about for Ball, although, is one with pound-for-pound star the mighty Naoya Inoue, AKA “The Monster.” And what a monster struggle Inoue Vs. Ball can be, particularly for the UK and for British struggle followers. Ball, who spoke with The Echo in his native Liverpool, stated he retains listening to Inoue’s identify. Inoue has but to verify if he’ll even make the transfer as much as the featherweight division (though most individuals do anticipate him to take action, possibly as quickly as subsequent 12 months) – however Ball says he shall be ready for the Japanese famous person if he does invade his weight division.
“He’s the identify I get talked about with, and he’s the fighter that everybody is talking about, and they’re the fighters that I wish to struggle,” Ball stated, referring to Inoue. “I wish to show that I’m higher than them. I wish to present that I’m the most effective. So, yeah, he’s undoubtedly somebody I’d struggle. If he’s coming as much as my weight, I wish to present I’m the person at my weight.”
27-year-old Ball, 20-0-1(11), and an actual warrior who thrills followers together with his continuous punch output and his sheer aggression in opposition to Inoue, an excellent fighter who can seemingly do all of it, is a genuinely mouthwatering proposition. However once more, 34-year-old Californian Rios should be handled first, in just some hours from now, and we’ve seen over time quite a few ‘Homecoming’ affairs flip right into a catastrophe, with the native hero making an attempt too arduous to please his hometown followers and being the sufferer of an upset consequently.
However assuming Ball does get previous Rios, and he’s a reasonably hefty favourite to take action, these aforementioned unification fights will come. Who is aware of, Ball, nearly as good as he’s, may need gained two, even three of the featherweight titles by the point Inoue strikes as much as 126. And what a large struggle, Ball Vs. Inoue can be if it contested two or three world titles. Would Ball go to Japan for the struggle, or would Inoue come to the UK?
For now, Inoue has unfinished enterprise at 122 kilos, and Ball has work to do at 126. Rios, 34-4(17), a former two-time world title challenger at super-bantam, shall be no pushover.
Decide: Ball survives a scare or two earlier than he comes on to cease Rios late.
