Nick Ball halts the gutsy Ronny Rios to retain world title

Nick Ball stopped the brave Ronny Rios in 10 rounds in the first defense of his WBA featherweight championship in Liverpool, England.

Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) had promised his home fans that he would put on a show in his first fight back in the city in four years, and he certainly delivered.

He pressed the action from the opening bell, and even a broken and bloodied nose couldn’t deter the champion from his prey. Rios (34-5, 17 KOs) had battled through two knockdowns but finally succumbed to Ball’s relentless pressure in the 10th.

A vicious onslaught in the corner blasted the veteran through the ropes and onto the canvas. The brave Rios returned to the ring, but his corner had seen enough and threw in the towel to bring an end to the action, saving Rios, now 34, from another brutal attack.

Ball, 27, was boxing in the city’s iconic M&S Bank Arena for the first time after spending the majority of his professional career on the small-hall circuit, boxing in the city’s nightclubs and halls.

“I’m delighted,” Ball said post-fight. “Massive turnout for me. To be honest, I think I got a bit carried away with the crowd. I got hit with a few too many shots, but it is what it is. It all made for a good fight.”

Ball, the WBA featherweight boss, was unfortunate not to unseat WBC titleholder Rey Vargas in March when they fought to a contentious draw. Ball aims now to capture the title he feels he was denied, and to lift the others to become undisputed at 126 pounds.

“I want the ones with the other belts,” he said. “I’ve got one of four. I’m coming for them belts. That green one would be nice to get; it should be mine anyway.”

Ball walked to the ring with an air of confidence as he was cheered by his faithful home supporters. His beloved fans made their presence known after having to watch from home when Ball won the belt against Raymond Ford, in June, out in Saudi Arabia.

Ball and Rios met center ring at the sound of the first bell, and the Briton showed his intentions with a powerful left hook that whistled past the chin of Rios. Ball treated the three-time world title challenger with no respect and piled on his trademark hooks to the head and body.

Ball started the second with more of the same and forced the struggling Rios on to the ropes. Ball continued to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Rios, but the veteran bit down on his gumshield and fired back at the body – albeit with limited success.

Ball had no respect for what was coming back, and it was in the third round when the inevitable happened. The pair came together and traded left hooks, with Rios crashing to the canvas in a heap. The brave Rios climbed to his feet, determined for his final shot at winning a world title to not go up in smoke. Ball backed up Rios, but the veteran dug in deep and managed to survive the round, with referee Bob Williams watching closely.

Many would have thought the fight would come to an end in the fourth after the action of round three, but Rios battled through and seemed to find a home for the occasional body shot.

The difference in power was clear to see, but Rios continued to cause damage to the nose of Ball in the fifth – yet the champion was unfazed by the blood flowing out of it. Ball manhandled Rios in the sixth, treating him like the punch bag he so often torments in the Everton Red Triangle gym.

Ball continued his hunt for a knockout, and in the seventh he very nearly found it. A left hook again dropped Rios early in the round, but Rios once more gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet. Rios may not have been winning the exchanges, but he had certainly started to find a home for his shots more often.

The eighth and ninth rounds were Rios’ best of the fight. No, he didn’t win them, but he seemed more at ease with the power of Ball and in spells pushed Ball back.

Ball retaliated in the 10th, determined not to let Rios grow in confidence. He pinned his opponent in the corner as Rios’ corner screamed for him to get out. He let out a barrage of shots of which Mike Tyson, a fighter to whom he has so often been compared, would have been proud. Rios crumbled from the blistering attack and collapsed through the ropes and onto the corner of the canvas.

The brave Rios again climbed to his feet and through the ropes, but it didn’t matter. His corner threw in the towel at two minutes and six seconds of Round 10.

Ball delivered the knockout he had promised to his home supporters.

The Liverpool crowd has been crying out for a local fighter to sell out its beloved Anfield Stadium, and if Ball keeps on performing like that, it may just have found one.