Nick Ball Stopped Ronny Rios to Retain WBA Title
Liverpool’s own Nick Ball made his first WBA featherweight title defense against American challenger Ronny Rios on October 5, 2024, in Liverpool. Ball retained the title with a 10th-round TKO.
The Champion’s Journey
Nick Ball, the undefeated 27-year-old British fighter, has had a remarkable year in 2024. After securing the WBA title in June with a split-decision victory over Raymond Ford in Riyadh, Ball fought in front of his home crowd and retained the belt with a 10th-round TKO.
A Dream Come True
For Ball, the homecoming bout was the culmination of a dream year. Having already participated in two world title matches, he expressed his excitement about defending his title at home, calling it “the cherry on top” of an incredible season.
The Challenger
Ronny Rios, a 34-year-old veteran from Southern California, brings a wealth of experience to the ring. With a record of 34 wins and 4 losses, including 17 knockouts, Rios is no stranger to high-stakes fights. This bout marks his first professional fight outside the United States, adding an extra layer of challenge for the American boxer.
The Undercard
Andrew Cain and Jadier Herrera also fought on the undercard. Cain stopped Lazaro Casseres in the second round, while Herrera stopped Oliver Flores in the third.
Implications for the Featherweight Division
Ball’s victory kept his unbeaten record intact and retained his WBA featherweight title. His promoter, Frank Warren, had called him the world’s best featherweight; the win over Rios added another successful defense to that claim.
A Night to Remember
Ball stopped Rios in the 10th round at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, retaining his WBA featherweight title in front of his home crowd.
Citations:
[1] BBC Sport
[2] ESPN
[Result] Bad Left Hook
[3] FightNews
[4] The Ring
[5] Big Fight Weekend
Sources
Tags: Boxing
