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.”
Read the full article here
