Nick Ball vs Ronny Rios fight preview, betting odds and prediction
Unbeaten Nick Ball (20-0-1, 11KO) will defend his WBA featherweight title to Californian challenger Ronny Rios (34-4, 17KO) this Saturday, October 5th, at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
27-year-old Ball is defending the WBA belt he won against Raymond Ford in his last fight on the Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs 5 event in Saudi last June.
It was the Liverpudlian’s second crack at a world title, having been subjected to a controversial draw against WBC World featherweight titlist, Rey Vargas, in March 2023, despite scoring multiple knockdowns against the Mexican. Promoter Frank Warren audibly voiced his disgust at the scorecards immediately after the bout.
Undeterred, Ball jumped straight back into a world title fight and won fair and square, in a close, thrilling fight with Ford which ended on a split decision.
He now defends his new black belt for the first time against 34-year-old American, Rios Quezada.
Rios is very bouncy on his feet, a bit like an amateur. His style shows that he enjoyed a successful amateur career, winning two U.S. national titles and a national Golden Gloves.
He carries a high guard and has a stiff jab. He mostly throws straight shots – jabs, lead rights, one-twos – which is the polar opposite to Nick Ball.
Their clash of styles should be very interesting because each fighters’ style has the capability to negate the other.
Rios could use his straight shots and ability to box at range to keep Ball on the end of his punches. But Ball is exceptional at closing the distance and landing big hooks and uppercuts in close. These eye-catching combinations can take away the fact that he also has an excellent jab, where he is able to outjab far taller fighters with a longer reach than him.
Ronny’s preference to mix up his shots to throw to head and body could potentially be difficult due to the height difference. At over 5’7″, Rios would be punching down very far if he intends to target the body of Ball.
Rios has challenged for a world title twice before, firstly against shared opponent, Rey Vargas, seven years ago, losing via UD. Then he got a shot against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in June 2022 for the WBA Super and IBF super-bantamweight belts, which he lost in the final round.
It was a close contest, Rios having lots of positive moments until he was constantly caught with a right hook to his head in the 12th. But it was a huge left hook to the body that downed Rios, which he bravely got back up from, but could offer nothing back as he was chased around the ring causing the referee to stop the fight in the final minute.
The 34-year-old American has knocked out half of his opponents, which is respectable stat. And Ball is just slightly ahead with a 55% KO ratio, having 11 knockout wins from 20 victories.
Despite this similar KO ratio, it’s Ball who is the far more aggressive fighter of the two.
Aptly, nicknamed ‘The Wrecking Ball’, the 27-year-old Brit only has destruction on his mind as soon as that first bell sounds.
He has an exhilarating style, similar to Mike Tyson, where he throws big left and right hooks and uppercuts in close range. His combination punching is exceptional. He can throw five, six-punch combos using a variety of hooks uppercuts, crosses and straight shots. When he unleashes these volleys, they come hard and fast, and are very eye-catching, always drawing a reaction from the audience.
Like Tyson, he leans very far over to the side to create the angles for his body shots and uppercuts up top. Adding a straight right into his combos works like a treat. When the opponent is covering up around the sides, Ball finds the space to land straight down the middle and it’s a joy to watch.
This swarming style means that he can be caught back, when opening up in range, but thus far, the Merseyside mauler has taken everything on the chin and continued advancing forwards.
There’s been moments where a punch has caught his attention, earned his respect, placed him back on the balls of his feet, but he has handled every single shaky moment so far, of which there have been very few.
Ball is the overwhelming favourite as the world champion in his hometown, but Rios is highly capable of pulling off an upset 5,000 miles from home.
Betting Odds
1/10: Ball
20/1: Draw
13/2: Rios
Prediction
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “I have known Nick for a long time now, way before he was even signed by Frank Warren, and the man is a consummate professional who turned pro solely to become a world champion and nothing else.
“I respect Rios and all of his experience, but I think he will be tailor-made for Ball, who many will see as a brawler, swarmer, slugger, but he’s far more intelligent as well. His jab is exceptional, but it’s overshadowed by his big hooks and uppercuts he likes to throw in close. He can stand at range and outjab opponents with much longer reach, all down to his speed and accuracy.
“I’m expecting a devastating performance from Ball, where there will be multiple knockdowns until the ref or the corner wave it off. Ball is a big puncher, but not concussive where his opponents are out for the count.
“He has visited the 12th round in five of his last six fights, but nine of his 11 KOs have occurred in the first half of the bouts.
“I am picking Ball to win by KO anytime after the sixth round.”
Get to know Nick Ball