Victorious Nick Ball eyeing Rey Vargas and Naoya Inoue

Nick Ball is concentrating on a rematch with Rey Vargas and a future battle with Naoya Inoue after efficiently defending his WBA featherweight title in opposition to Ronny Rios.

Ball was defending his title for the primary time and making his first look in Liverpool, his residence metropolis, for over 4 years. His rising help there needed to watch his previous two fights in Saudi Arabia– a controversial draw in opposition to WBC titlist Vargas adopted by Ball profitable his belt by defeating Raymond Ford – from afar. 

His loyal supporters turned up of their 1000’s to Liverpool’s M&S Financial institution Area to help one in all their very own. The 27 12 months previous couldn’t consider the reception he obtained after combating within the metropolis’s iconic venue for the primary time, after beforehand boxing in nightclubs and halls elsewhere within the metropolis.

“It hasn’t even sunk in,” Ball advised BoxingScene. “It’s loopy to suppose how far I’ve come. I’ve at all times dreamed of it realizing it was going to occur. With the best backing, the best workforce round me, the best promoter – Workforce Queensberry. They’ve made it occur and introduced boxing again to Liverpool. Huge night time and I can’t thank them sufficient.

“It’s the beginning of one thing new. I’m world champion however bringing the boxing again to Liverpool within the M&S Financial institution Area – it’s the place everybody needs to come back. I really feel like that is solely the beginning; many extra nights to come back right here.”

Ball’s homecoming was an enormous success through him producing an all-action efficiency in opposition to the 34-year-old Rios and battling by a damaged nostril to drop him twice earlier than ultimately stopping him within the tenth spherical. 

“I at all times knew I had him harm,” Ball continued. “I may see in his eyes that he was damaged, he was getting out of the stool drained. So, I knew I simply needed to preserve it on him however on the similar time take my time; keep switched on. He was harmful at instances in there. I knew I used to be attending to him, nevertheless it was only a matter of when and it lastly got here.”

“I have been hit by tougher punches however he was touchdown clear with proper fingers and jabs what I shouldn’t be getting hit with – as you may see from my nostril. That’s boxing isn’t it? Each battle you study and I’ve positively realized from that one. So, I will be taking it into the following battle.”

Ball’s focus had firmly been on Rios, however that modified after the battle when he named a rematch with Vargas and a battle with undisputed super-bantamweight champion Inoue as potential choices.

“I would like a shot at Vargas as a result of that’s my belt,” he stated. “I ought to have it on this different shoulder nevertheless it’s coming. All the pieces occurs for a motive so solely time will inform.

“[And] everybody is happening about Inoue’s identify, aren’t they? He’s a brilliant bantamweight – there isn’t any tremendous bantamweights calling him out. However clearly, if he comes as much as my weight I’m going to indicate him who the person is at this weight. In fact, I’d battle him 100 per cent. He’s a high quality fighter and everyone seems to be talking us combating so after all I’d.”

Ball had paid a go to to Liverpool soccer membership’s iconic Anfield earlier within the week to advertise his date with Rios. 

“[Fighting there] could be subsequent stage,” Ball stated. “I used to be there this week for the Champions League recreation [against Bologna] with my dad and that was a particular night time. I stated to him, ‘Think about combating right here, I’m going to make it occur’, so hopefully sooner or later it does.”

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