Victorious Nick Ball eyeing Rey Vargas and Naoya Inoue

Nick Ball is targeting a rematch with Rey Vargas and a future fight with Naoya Inoue after successfully defending his WBA featherweight title against Ronny Rios.

Ball was defending his title for the first time and making his first appearance in Liverpool, his home city, for over four years. His growing support there had to watch his past two fights in Saudi Arabia– a controversial draw against WBC titlist Vargas followed by Ball winning his belt by defeating Raymond Ford – from afar. 

His loyal supporters turned up in their thousands to Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena to support one of their own. The 27 year old couldn’t believe the reception he got after fighting in the city’s iconic venue for the first time, after previously boxing in nightclubs and halls elsewhere in the city.

“It hasn’t even sunk in,” Ball told BoxingScene. “It’s crazy to think how far I’ve come. I’ve always dreamed of it knowing it was going to happen. With the right backing, the right team around me, the right promoter – Team Queensberry. They’ve made it happen and brought boxing back to Liverpool. Massive night and I can’t thank them enough.

“It’s the start of something new. I’m world champion but bringing the boxing back to Liverpool in the M&S Bank Arena – it’s where everyone wants to come. I feel like this is only the start; many more nights to come here.”

Ball’s homecoming was a huge success via him producing an all-action performance against the 34-year-old Rios and battling through a broken nose to drop him twice before eventually stopping him in the 10th round. 

“I always knew I had him hurt,” Ball continued. “I could see in his eyes that he was broken, he was getting out of the stool drained. So, I knew I just had to keep it on him but at the same time take my time; stay switched on. He was dangerous at times in there. I knew I was getting to him, but it was just a matter of when and it finally came.”

“I’ve been hit by harder punches but he was landing clean with right hands and jabs what I shouldn’t be getting hit with – as you can see from my nose. That’s boxing isn’t it? Every fight you learn and I’ve definitely learned from that one. So, I’ll be taking it into the next fight.”

Ball’s focus had firmly been on Rios, but that changed after the fight when he named a rematch with Vargas and a fight with undisputed super-bantamweight champion Inoue as potential options.

“I need a shot at Vargas because that’s my belt,” he said. “I should have it on this other shoulder but it’s coming. Everything happens for a reason so only time will tell.

“[And] everyone is going on about Inoue’s name, aren’t they? He’s a super bantamweight – there isn’t any super bantamweights calling him out. But obviously, if he comes up to my weight I’m going to show him who the man is at this weight. Of course, I’d fight him 100 per cent. He’s a quality fighter and everyone is speaking us fighting so of course I would.”

Ball had paid a visit to Liverpool football club’s iconic Anfield earlier in the week to promote his date with Rios. 

“[Fighting there] would be next level,” Ball said. “I was there this week for the Champions League game [against Bologna] with my dad and that was a special night. I said to him, ‘Imagine fighting here, I’m going to make it happen’, so hopefully one day it does.”