Ronny Rios considering future after damaging defeat by Nick Ball

Ronny Rios is considering retirement after his defeat by the WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball.

Rios, 34, was fighting for a world title for the third time after previously losses to Rey Vargas and Murodjon Akhmadaliev at super bantamweight. 

He produced a gutsy performance and battled through two knockdowns, but eventually succumbed to Ball’s relentless pressure in Liverpool in the 10th round. He was knocked through the ropes but bravely climbed back under them to return to his feet. His corner had seen enough, however, and threw in the towel to save him from further punishment.

“I’m disappointed,” Rios told BoxingScene. “I know everyone is saying you showed a lot of heart, but at the end of the day man I came to win. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the victory, but having a strong support system really helps out. Not the result I wanted – people can say you’re a warrior – but I came here to win. I’m thankful to have the people I have on my side.

“The first one was a legitimate knockdown. I felt it and was like, ‘Oh shoot, you’ve got to get back up and get back in the game’. The second one was more of a push, and I told the ref, but the last knockdown – that was legitimate. 

“I heard a little bit of ringing – I wanted to continue – but the referee stopped the fight. But at the end of the day, it’s not my job; it’s my corner’s job to protect me and I understand. I’m a fighter at the end of the day; I want to go out on my shield, but it’s okay.”

Rios had been vocal in the build-up to the fight at the M&S Bank Arena about how his experience over Ball would be the key to victory. Rios was then surprised at the tactics Ball implemented for a fighter 27 years of age.

“He’s good,” he said. “Even though he’s only 27 he had a lot of tactics that were little veteran tactics, little dirty moves, and stuff like that. I wish the referee would have warned him a little more, but that’s not my job. At the end of the day, it is what it is.

“I wish I would have followed the game plan more. I wish I had used more movement, so that’s probably going to haunt me for a while. My corner was saying stick and move, but I wasn’t listening. At the end of the day, it’s all on me. I’m not going to look at the good things; I’m going to look at the bad things. I went out there; I tried; there was no quit in me. I can walk away if I want to.”

Rios retired in 2022 but returned with the ambition of achieving his childhood dream of becoming a world champion. After failing at the third attempt, succeeding is looking more and more unlikely.

“I don’t want to fight just to fight,” Rios said. “I want to fight to win a world championship. So, I don’t know [if I’ll continue] right now, I have mixed feelings. I’ll go back and see if I really want to do this because, at the end of the day, I want to win a world championship. If I come back, it’s going to be to become a world champion and be the best. If I don’t, I went out there and gave it everything I had. So, I’m okay about walking away too.”