Nick Ball hoped to land a blockbuster combat for his subsequent outing.
He’ll gladly accept a hometown headlining act.
The unbeaten WBA featherweight titlist will make his first protection versus former title challenger Ronny Rios. The bout will high an Oct. 5 TNT Sports activities card from M&S Financial institution Area in his hometown of Liverpool, England.
“I actually can’t wait to combat in Liverpool once more, this time as a world champion,” stated Ball. “It has been over 4 years and it will likely be actually particular for me.”
Ball (20-0-1, 11 knockouts) received the belt in an exhilarating twelve-round break up determination over Raymond Ford (15-1-1, 8 KOs, No. 8 at 126). Their June 1 Combat of the Yr contender noticed Ball, The Ring’s No. 4 rated featherweight, prevail in his second title bid.
His first try resulted in a twelve-round draw versus WBC titleholder Rey Vargas (36-1-1, 22 KOs), No. 3 at 126. Each fights happened on Riyadh Season exhibits in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“It has been a dream yr for me with two world title fights to date,” famous Ball. “To cap it off by defending my belt at house is the icing on the cake and I’m so excited.”
Added Corridor of Fame promoter Frank Warren: “I’m thrilled to be returning to Liverpool with a world title combat and, unquestionably, one of the best featherweight on this planet in Nick Ball. His journey since beating Isaac Lowe at Wembley Stadium in 2022 has been a magical journey. No one deserves an enormous homecoming greater than Nick.”
Rios (34-4, 17 KOs) hopes to win his first main belt on his third attempt.
The 34-year-old from Santa Ana got here up brief in an Aug. 2017 WBC 122-pound title bid versus Vargas. His problem of then-unbeaten WBA/IBF junior featherweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs) was way more disastrous. Rios was stopped within the twelfth and closing spherical of their June 2022 conflict in San Antonio, Texas.
One win has adopted for the perimeter contender from Santa Ana, California. Rios, the older brother of Ring No. 8-rated welterweight Alexis Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) stopped Nicolas Polanco (21-6-1, 12 KOs) within the fourth spherical on an April 24 ProBox present. The bout happened at featherweight, the place Rios hopes to search out new luck on the title stage.
