Ball makes triumphant homecoming, batters Rios in 10th-round TKO
Scores 3 knockdowns, retains WBA featherweight title in 1st defense
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Although Nick Ball was the one with blood all over his face and an apparent broken nose, he scored three knockdowns, laid a beating on big-hearted Ronny Rios and stopped him in the 10th round of a one-sided but action-packed fight to retain the WBA featherweight title on Saturday.
Ball was making his first title defense before a raucous hometown crowd at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, and he gave his throng of supporters a resounding victory in his first bout in the city since he was fighting in six-rounders as a prospect in 2020.
It was worth the wait for Ball to fight at the city’s main arena — walking distance from his home — for the first time.
“Delighted, massive turnout for me,” Ball said. “To be honest, I think I got a bit carried away with how good it was and got hit with a few too many shots. It is what it is. It made for a good fight, so it was exciting.”
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