Talks for Nick Ball-Ronny Rios ‘look promising’ but not over the line yet

Despite early speculation that Ronny Rios could challenge Nick Ball for the WBA featherweight title in Liverpool, the deal is not over the line. 

Rios has been strongly linked to a fight with Ball on October 5 in a homecoming for the champion, who won his title in Saudi Arabia with a split-decision win over Raymond Ford in June. 

Ball, promoted by International Boxing Hall of Famer Frank Warren, won the crown from Ford having pushed WBC champion Rey Vargas to a draw in his previous fight, which also took place in Riyadh.

Rios is 34-4 (17 KOs) and coming off a stoppage win over Nicolas Polanco on ProBox TV in April. 

The 27-year-old champion is 20-0-1 (11 KOs). Californian Rios, two fights ago, challenged Uzbek Murodjon Akhmadaliev for the IBF junior featherweight title and was stopped in the 12th round.

Although reports have suggested Ball-Rios is all but set for Liverpool on October 5, Rios’ promoter at ProBox TV, Garry Jonas, said: “While it looks promising, nothing is final as of yet.”