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Nick Ball joked he might “jog” to the M&S Bank Arena for his world title defence on Saturday in Liverpool, considering how close he lives to venue.<\/b><\/p>\n
The WBA featherweight champion will have a night of firsts, defending his belt for the first time and headlining at the M&S Bank Arena.<\/p>\n
Ball, 27, is a big favourite against American Ronny Rios and has not fought in a ring in his home city since 2020.<\/p>\n
Ball lives and trains in Liverpool but has contested his last two fights in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Ball promised an “all-action” performance to pay back the support he has received from his home city.<\/p>\n
“We get behind our own if we see someone doing well and putting the hard work in, it pays off,” Ball said.<\/p>\n
It was a largely friendly news conference, although Rios’ manager insisted that while Ball “deserved” his homecoming, he had “unfortunately picked the wrong opponent” for it.<\/p>\n
Rios, 34, has four losses in 38 fights, making him the more experienced fighter, but his previous two world title shots have been at super-bantamweight.<\/p>\n
Ball attended the media event with his WBA belt for the first time. He won the title in June,<\/a> but traditionally the new holder gives the belt back to the defeated champion and waits for his own to be delivered.<\/p>\n Nicknamed ‘the Wrecking Ball’, Ball has five stoppages in his last eight outings and was surprised to hear Rios intended to fight fire with fire in the ring.<\/p>\n “If he thinks he’s going to get in there and push me back, he’s got another thing coming,” Ball said.<\/p>\n “It might sound good in front of the cameras, but once you get in the ring it’s a different story.”<\/p>\n Unification fights await Ball if he can beat Rios, with Angelo Leo holding the IBF title and Rafael Espinoza the WBO champion.<\/p>\n Ball has already faced another world champion, WBC title holder Rey Vargas, but was held to a controversial draw by the Mexican in March.<\/a><\/p>\n The Kirkby fighter is undefeated, with that one draw plus 20 wins including 11 stoppages on his record.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n