Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios - Fight card, date, start time, streaming, how to watch, venue, and more

Modified Sep 24, 2024 00:04 GMT

Nick Ball is scheduled to defend his WBA featherweight world boxing title for the first time.

Over the last year, few boxers have drastically increased their fanbase more than Ball. The 27-year-old Liverpool native stands at 5-foot-2 and fights at 126 pounds, making it a frequent occurrence for his opponents to be taller. With that said, 'The Wrecking Ball' makes up for his lack of size with heart and relentless aggression.

Earlier this year, Ball challenged Rey Vargas, who stands at 5-foot-10, for his WBC featherweight world title. Vargas retained his title with a controversial split-decision draw. Meanwhile, Ball earned fans' respect with his entertaining fighting style and refusal to give up despite the height disadvantage.

Three months later, Ball had another opportunity to become a world champion when he challenged Raymond Ford for his WBA featherweight strap. This time, 'The Wrecking Ball' was on the right side of a close decision, as he was awarded a split decision for his first major world title.

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On Oct. 5, Ball will defend his WBA featherweight throne for the first time inside the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. He is expected to receive a hero's welcome since the fight is in his hometown.

Ball has been matched up against Ronny Rios, an American with a 34-4 professional boxing record (17 KO/TKOs). Rios ended a near-two-year layoff in April, defeating Nicolas Polanco by fifth-round knockout. He now looks to pull off a massive upset against Ball.

What time is the Nick Ball vs Ronny Rios fight?

Nick Ball and Ronny Rios are expected to make their ring walks around 10:00 p.m. BST on Saturday, Oct. 5. The estimated timeframe translates to 2:00 p.m. ET, 1:00 P.M. CT, and 11:00 a.m. PT. It should be noted that the main event start time could be changed depending on the pace of the event.

How to watch Nick Ball vs Ronny Rios

The Oct. 5 event can be seen on TNT Sports for fans in the United Kingdom. As for North American fans, there isn't an officially announced broadcaster, so they may have to use an offshore streaming site to watch Ball vs Rios.