How to watch Nick Ball vs Ronny Rios in the UK and U.S.
WBA featherweight world champion Nick Ball will make the first defence of his crown against Ronny Rios in the main event this Saturday, October 5, at M&S Bank Arena, Promoted by Queensberry Promotions in Ball’s hometown of Liverpool.
How to Watch
U.S: ESPN+ starting at 2pm ET / 11am PT
UK: TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 7pm BST
Ringwalks: Main event (approx.) 10:30pm BST / 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT
Background
Nick Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) defeated former world champion Isaac Dogboe by decision last November and fought to a draw against Rey Vargas in a bid for the WBC crown in March. Less than three months later, he captured world title glory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, edging Ray Ford via split decision for the WBA strap.
Californian challenger Ronny Rios (34-4, 17 KOs) is a two-time world title challenger, 34, who enters this assignment after an impressive fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco in April. He was off for nearly two years before the Polanco fight, losing via 12th-round stoppage to then-unified world champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev in June 2022.
Betting Odds
1/10: Ball
20/1: Draw
13/2: Rios
Prediction
Tim Rickson BBN Editor: “I respect Rios and all of his experience, but I think he will be tailor-made for Ball, who many see as a brawler, but he’s far more intelligent as well. His jab is exceptional, but it’s overshadowed by his big hooks and uppercuts he likes to throw in close. He can stand at range and outjab opponents with much longer reach, all down to his speed, timing and accuracy.
“Rios is an out-boxer, who likes to fight at range, throwing straight shots to head and body, particularly adept at whipping in a long left hooks to the body, but Ball can outpunch him from there, despite the height and reach deficit, and will also be able to close the distance between them because he always does.
“Ball is a big puncher, but not concussive where his opponents are out for the count, so I think there will be a period of time where he will break Rios down, maybe scoring a few knockdowns before the finish.
“He has visited the 12th round in five of his last six fights, but nine of his 11 KOs have occurred in the first half of the bouts, so I am picking Ball to win by KO anytime after the sixth round.”
Undercard
Henry Turner (13-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jack Rafferty (23-0, 14 KOs)
12×3 Commonwealth, British, WBC International Silver Junior Welterweight Titles
Jack Turner (8-0, 7 KOs) vs. Gonzalo Corinaldesi (5-6-1, 1 KO)
6×3 Bantamweights
Jadier Herrera (15-0, 13 KOs) vs. Oliver Flores (31-5-2, 20 KOs)
10×3 Vacant WBA Intercontinental Lightweight Title
Walter Fury (1-0) vs. Dale Arrowsmith (6-114-5, 1 KO)
4×3 Junior Middleweights
Andrew Cain (12-1, 11 KOs) vs. Lazaro Casseres (11-1, 4 KOs)
10×3 Vacant WBC International Silver Bantamweight Title