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George Warren backs 'phenomenal fighter' Nick Ball to triumph over Ronny Rios in first title defence
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Published 04/10/2024 at 10:43 GMT+1
Nick Ball makes his first defence of the WBA featherweight championship when he takes on American veteran Ronny Rios, live on TNT Sports on Saturday night. The card at the M&S Bank Arena will be held in his native Liverpool, and Ball is delighted to be back in his hometown. Promoter George Warren sees his man as the clear favourite in the upcoming bout.
Ball reveals what impressed him most with Dubois' shock victory over Joshua
Video credit: TNT Sports
WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball is a “phenomenal fighter,” his promoter George Warren said ahead of Saturday night's title fight with Ronny Rios.
The two are set to fight in Ball’s native Liverpool, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, in what promises to be a huge homecoming night.
The fight at the M&S Bank Arena will mark Ball’s return to the United Kingdom after two fights in Saudi Arabia as part of the Riyadh Season campaign.
Those fights included a draw against another champion, Rey Vargas, in which many believe the Brit should have been declared the winner. That was followed by a victory against Raymond Ford as part of the Queensberry v Matchroom 5 v 5 night. It was in that second bout that Ball claimed his strap.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday ahead of the clash, Ball admitted he was looking forward to being in front of a home crowd.
“I’m glad to be back, fighting in my home city, where it all started, fighting as a world champion,” he said.
“That’s how it should be and that’s what it is. We get behind our own. You see someone putting the hard work in, it pays off.”
He dismissed the chances of his opponent, veteran battler Rios, producing an upset.
“He thinks he’s gonna go in there and push me back, that’s not gonna happen,” claimed Ball. “Once you get in the ring, it’s a different story. So good luck with that… It will be all-action from me.”
Rios acknowledged Ball’s talents, but reinstated his belief that he would be the one to come out on top.
“This is my third attempt, we’ve got a good fighter in front of us,” he said. “These are the fights that I get up for. I have always wanted to test myself, and in my eyes Nick Ball is one of the best fighters at 126. I’m excited to test myself. We’ve had a great camp. Two more days and it’s here.”
Warren believes that Ball’s abilities make him the clear favourite as the duo prepare to go head-to-head.
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Ball aiming for 'all-action, big performance' against Rios
Video credit: TNT Sports
“He has taken the opportunities presented to him with both hands, and constantly shown what a world-class operator he is,” he said. “Some of those performances, people forget even before the fights in Riyadh, against [Isaac] Dogboe, and the performance in Riyadh against Vargas when he was robbed and deserved to come away with the WBC title that night.
“I think the judges got that seriously wrong, and to overcome that and, at 10 weeks' notice, go in against a legit, quality world-class like Ray Ford and put on the performance that he did, this guy is not just one of the most exciting boxers in this country but in the world.
“For me, the only one that wins this is Nick Ball and I am so excited to see him back in the ring.”
Elsewhere, TNT Sports Box Office will be home to an equally mouthwatering clash when Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol square-off in the IV Crown Showdown at the Riyadh Season Opening Ceremony for the undisputed light heavyweight world title later this month.
How to watch Beterbiev v Bivol
Beterbiev v Bivol on TNT Sports Box Office costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched on discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video and Virgin Media TV. You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy this event.
discovery+ - TNT Sports Box Office events are available to purchase and watch in the discovery+ app – on smart TV’s, computer or mobile device, viewers wanting to watch the fight should visit https://www.discoveryplus.com/gb/ppv-purchases and follow instructions to subscribe and then purchase the event.
EE TV - Customers can purchase the event via their STB on channel 494.
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The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
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