Ball brutally batters Rios to retain WBA belt
Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12KO) defended his WBA featherweight title against Californian challenger Ronny Rios (34-5, 17KO) in Liverpool on October 5, live on TNT Sports.
The local lad immediately took the centre of the ring from the first round, reeling off six-punch combinations in the first minute. He landed a strong right-left hook combo just 40 seconds in.
Rios tried to box at range using his rangy jab and straight shots, but Ball trapped him on the ropes constantly.
Ball was teeing off on the target and his big head shots, especially the uppercuts, were wearing the Californian down, who tucked up tight and could offer very little back.
In round three, the Liverpudlian landed four left uppercuts to drop the American, who still had over two minutes left to survive the round. Rios threw a three-punch combination, left and right hooks to the body and left hook up top, but Ball responded by pushing him back onto the ropes and scoring a big left hook to the head.
Referee Bob Williams was having a really close look and appeared to be poised to jump in at any moment, but it’s a world title fight, so he gave Rios plenty of chance to fight back, which he did. Rios telegraphed a right hook to the body, so the 27-year-old countered with a short left hook to the head.
In round four, a five-pinch combo culminating in a left hook to the head staggered Rios backwards, who was still trying to land his body shots, particularly targeting the left hook to right side of Ball’s body, a shot he used effectively to knock out Nicolas Polanco in the fifth round of his last fight. Ball’s nose was bloodied by this point.
By round seven, there was even more blood on the face and left shoulder of Ball. Rios landed a stiff jab that snapped the champion’s head back, but Ball responded with a big left hook upstairs which he leaped into. Rios was upset that it was ruled a knockdown, believing it was more of a push down as he was unbalanced.
In round 10, Ball relentlessly battered Rios until he was knocked out of the ring and, even though he got back to his feet, the towel was sensibly thrown in at 2:06 of the 10th round.
The result of the fight was widely expected, BBN Editor Tim Rickson called it exactly right in his fight preview HERE
However, the demolition job would certainly send shockwaves through the division, with Ball intent on a rematch with Rey Vargas, who held the Brit to a controversial draw in March this year, after Ball had decked the WBC champion multiple times.
IBF titlist Angelo Leo would make for a fun fight and WBO beltholder Rafael Espinoza is a target too.
Ball not only defended the black belt he won from Raymond ford in June this year, he also sent a statement to all the other 126-pound champions across the world.
It was a successful night for the Everton Red Triangle gym, with four of their fighters all victorious in their home city. Trained by Paul Stevenson, Ball, Andrew Cain, Brad Strand and Boma Brown all won by knockout.
Andrew Cain knocked out Lazaro Casseres in two rounds to win the WBC International Silver bantamweight title.
Cain’s shots were audibly stronger than Casseres, who was stalked around the ring. A left hook around the temple and two follow-up uppercuts wobbled the legs of Lazaro to knock him down in the first minute of the second stanza.
Then, two big left hooks forced referee Victor Loughlin to step in and save Casseres.
British title contender Brad Strand scored a stunning KO against former WBC Continental Americas champion Marvin Solano. A swift one-two decked the Nicaraguan heavily.
Strand is now 12-1 and still holds the WBO European super-bantamweight title.
Heavyweight Boma Brown KO’d Amine Boucetta in the sixth and final round with a right uppercut.