Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight title for the first time when he defeats Ronny Rios this Saturday at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Frank Warren’s Queensberry are promoting the Ball vs Rios match, with TNT Sports broadcasting live in the UK and the event being broadcast on ESPN+ in the US.

Ball (20-0-1, 11 KO) can consider himself unfortunate not to have become a world champion before his momentous world title win in June, when he drew with Rey Vargas in the WBC title fight. March, despite two knockdowns against the Mexican.

The 27-year-old didn’t have to wait long for redemption as he put in an outstanding performance last season dethroning Ray Ford via split decision in Riyad to win the belt he is defending in his hometown this weekend.

Rios (34-4, 17 KO) is a protected first defense for “Wrecking” Ball, and the 34-year-old has suffered defeat in his two previous attempts to win the super bantamweight world title, including against the previously mentioned Vargas.

After being stopped in the last round of his fight for the IBF belt in June 2022, the Californian was sidelined for almost two years, only to return to featherweight in April, knocking out Nicholas Polanco in five rounds.

Cain clashes with Casseres

Andrew Cain has bounced back well from a split decision loss to Ionut Baluta last March and is fighting for the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Lazaro Casseres.

Cain (12-1, 11 KO) was last seen in July in Birmingham, stopping Ashley Lane for the British and Commonwealth belts, while Casseres (11-1, 4 KO) is on a seven-fight winning streak since becoming the only beat by a professional.

Rafferty attacks Turner

Commonwealth super-lightweight champion Jack Rafferty puts his title on the line against WBC International silver champion Henry Turner, with the vacant British belt also up for grabs in the 12-round fight.

Rafferty (23-0, 14 KO) won the Commonwealth crown with a first-round stoppage of Lee Appleyard last December, before picking up a third-round victory over Sabari Jaishankar in June.

Turner (13-0, 5 KO) won his belt in 2022 and has defended it four times, most recently a fifth-round stoppage of Maykol Mendoza in April.

Undercard remaining

In the second and final tenth round after Cain’s fight with Casseres, the talented Cuban Jadier Herrera (15-0, 13 KO) will appear, and the lightweight star can score another early victory, this time against Oliver Flores (31-5-2, 20 KO). . from Nicaragua.

In eight rounds, lightweight James McGivern (9-0, 3 KO) can win on points against Argentinian Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (17-16-2, 7 KO), who knocked down Archie Piercing twice before losing on points in May.

Super bantamweight talent Brad Strand (11-1, 3 KO) is coming off a defeat in the fight for the British and Commonwealth titles against Dennis McCann, but he should return to winning ways here with a victory against Marvin Solano (24-19, 24- 19, KO) 8 KO).

In six rounds, Jack Turner (8-0, 7 KO) may have to settle for points success against the tough bantamweight Gonzalo Corinaldesi (5-6-1, 1 KO) and Nelson Birchall (5-0, 2). KO) should do the same in his super featherweight fight against Mark Butler (3-12, 1 KO).

Heavyweight Hope, Boma Brown (4-0, 2 KO) will have to be content with a points victory over Amine Boucetta (8-16).

In four rounds, Walter Fury (1-0) should triumph on the scorecard in the super welterweight fight against Dale Arrowsmith (6-114-5, 1 KO), and in the middleweight fight Joe Cooper (1-0) should also win decision against Łukasz Barabasz (4-13, 2 KO).

Debutant Lucas Biswana should start with a points victory over Jakub Laskowski (4-31-1, 2 KO).

After Tyson Fury’s loss to Oleksandr Usyk in May, some in the boxing world wondered whether, at the age of 36, his best days were behind him.

Fury was badly weakened after losing a split decision to Usyk in their fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in Saudi Arabia in May, the first blemish on his 36-fight record.

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman added his two cents – but it doesn’t bode well for fans of “The Gypsy King”.

I’m talking to Fight the noiseRahman even went as far as to describe Fury as a “shell of himself” because of him exhausting trilogy with Deontay Wilder.

“The Rock” added that he believes Usyk will actually go one better and stop the Briton when he defeats him again on December 21.

“I think Deontay Wilder played an critical role in the Usyk and Tyson Fury rematch.

“I believe that Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury gave their all.

“I think they are both shells of themselves and I believe Usyk will win this rematch by stoppage.

“I know he knows he can get thrown and hurt, but I think there’s confidence in him now. I think he will win by stoppage.”

Fury, in the eyes of most, is weaker than his second fight with the Ukrainian, but Rahman knows better than anyone that overcoming all adversities is not impossible.

#OnThisDay In 2001, Hasim Rahman defeated Lennox Lewis by KO in round 5 of 12 to win the WBC, IBF and Lineal heavyweight titles. pic.twitter.com/qbkiLuWvmJ

— _hookoffthejab_ (@_hookoffthejab_) April 22, 2022

The Baltimore fighter scored one of the biggest upsets in the history of the heavyweight division when he knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001, with bookmaker odds rated him at around 20-1.

Although most observers agree with the verdict of the three ringside judges that night, Fury maintains he should have gotten the nod for Usyk and has stated that he intends to stop him when they decide the fight on Saturday in about 11 weeks’ time.

Anthony Joshua appears to have come to terms with the fact that his boxing career may be over after a complete loss to Daniel Dubois. The 34-year-old was demolished by his rival in five rounds in front of 96,000 spectators at Wembley last month.

Joshua was painted on the canvas many times during a one-sided fight at the national stadium.

His evening ended once and for all after a counterattack by Dubois to defend his IBF heavyweight title.

Immediately after the fight, questions began to arise about Joshua’s future in sports.

His promoter Eddie Hearn gave fans an insight into Joshua’s mood as he spoke to Charlie Parsons on the show A place of stomping podcast.

“I told AJ on the phone, ‘You probably have one to three fights left.’ Then it died down a little bit,” Hearn explained. “He kind of realized, ‘Oh shit, we’re on a straight line. It really is.”

The British Boxing Board of Control handed Joshua a 28-day suspension following his knockout against Dubois. However, Hearn clarified after the fight that the Watford-born star would be aiming for a rematch with his conqueror.

“I think he will exercise the rematch clause, I think that’s obvious,” the Matchroom boss said. “He’s going to need a rest and it’s a threatening fight, this guy is still gaining confidence. He will believe he can hurt Dubois, he will believe he can beat him. But full respect for Daniel Dubois, he deserves it, it was a great performance.

During the post-fight press conference, Hearn added: “We have another fight with Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh, and Daniel Dubois is part of that plan, but it could very well be Tyson Fury or another heavyweight.

“I think 2025 will be an fascinating year for Anthony Joshua in every way, but he’ll definitely be back and whether it’s against Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, whoever, you’ll have a good time.”

Meanwhile, Joshua was asked about his future after the defeat. He explained: “You’re probably asking, ‘Do I still want to keep fighting?’ Of course I want to keep fighting.

“We must also pay tribute to our opponent, Daniel. Congratulations to him and his team. I also thank my team for the way they prepared for me. There were a few mistakes, but that’s the game. Low margins can cost you top dollar.