Ronny Rios is considering retirement following his loss to WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball.

Rios, 34, was fighting for the world title for the third time after previous losses to Rey Vargas and Murodjon Akhmadaliev in the super bantamweight division.

He put up a brave performance and survived two knockdowns, but ultimately succumbed to Ball’s relentless pressure from Liverpool in the 10th round. He was thrown over the ropes, but bravely got under them and got back on his feet. His corner, however, had seen enough and threw in the towel to save him from further punishment.

“I’m disappointed,” Rios told BoxingScene. “I know everyone says you showed a lot of heart, but in the end I came to win. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to win, but having a forceful support system really helps me. It’s not the result I expected – people might say you’re a fighter – but I came here to win. I’m grateful to have the people I have on my side.

“The first one was a legitimate knockdown. I felt it and thought, “Oh, you’ve got to get back up and get back in the game.” The second punch was more of a shove, which I told the referee, but the last knockdown was justified.

“I heard a slight ringing – I wanted to continue – but the referee stopped the fight. But ultimately it’s not my job; It’s my duty to protect me and I understand. Ultimately, I am a warrior; I want to go out on the target, but everything’s fine.

During the build-up to the fight at the M&S Bank Arena, Rios was vocal that his experience with Ball would be key to victory. Rios was then surprised by Ball’s tactics for the 27-year-old player.

“It’s good,” he said. “Even though he’s only 27, he used a lot of tactics that were veteran tactics, little filthy moves and things like that. I wish the referee had warned him a little more, but it’s not my job. Ultimately, it is what it is.

I wish I had stuck to the game plan more. I wish I had used more movement, so this will probably haunt me for a while. My corner was saying hold on and keep moving, but I wasn’t listening. Ultimately, it’s all up to me. I won’t look at the good things; I’m going to look at the bad stuff. I went there; I tried; there was no resignation in me. I can leave if I want.

Rios retired in 2022, but returned with the ambition to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming world champion. After failing on the third attempt, success seems less and less likely.

“I don’t want to fight for the sake of fighting,” Rios said. “I want to fight for the world championship. So I don’t know [if I’ll continue] I currently have mixed feelings. I’ll go back and see if I really want to do it because ultimately I want to win the world championship. If I come back, it will mean becoming world champion and being the best. If I don’t do it, I’ll go there and give it my all. So I don’t mind leaving.”

ANTHONY CACACE says he would love to fight Leigh Wood but wants to pay well for it.

The 35-year-old currently holds the IBF super featherweight title and next faces mandatory challenger Eduardo Nunez. However, there are other options on the table for Cacace, such as fighting Wood or moving up to lightweight.

However, Cacace still has time on his side, as the fight with Nunez does not have to take place before March 2025. However, meeting Wood would mean losing the world title, and that came at a price.

“If I have to give up the belt, I want to pay to have the belt released and have the bag on top,” Cacace said.

“It’s not just leaving the club, it’s also giving up your crown and that’s your bargaining chip. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. If a fight with Leigh Wood were to come, I’m more than joyful and he knows it too. I’m more than joyful to do this fight, but I have to be prepared for the IBF and this fight and make sure I get a shot at the Nunez winner and his next fight.

Cacace knows what it’s like to wait for a world title fight and says Nunez deserves his chance.

“He stepped aside [for] the latter [against Warrington]– said the master.

“He has been on the bench for some time and deserves his chance. It’s nice to be the champion and not be in that position, but I know what position I’m in and it’s not nice to be there. For now it’s Nunez, but we have to work it out.

Nick Ball’s goal is a rematch with Rey Vargas and a future fight with Naoya Inoue after successfully defending his WBA featherweight title against Ronny Rios.

Ball defended his title for the first time and made his first appearance in his hometown of Liverpool in over four years. His growing support must have been watched from afar with his last two fights in Saudi Arabia – a controversial draw with WBC champion Vargas, after which Ball won the belt by defeating Raymond Ford.

His devoted supporters turned out in their thousands at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool to support one of their own. The 27-year-old couldn’t believe the reception he received after his first fight in the city’s iconic place, and he had previously boxed in nightclubs and halls in other parts of the city.

“It didn’t even register with me,” Ball told BoxingScene. “It’s crazy to think how far I’ve come. I always dreamed about it, knowing it would happen. With the right support, the right team around me and the right promoter – Team Queensberry. They managed to achieve this and bring boxing back to Liverpool. Huge night and I can’t thank them enough.

“This is the beginning of something novel. I’m world champion, but I’m going back to boxing in Liverpool at the M&S Bank Arena – that’s where everyone wants to come. I feel this is just the beginning; there are still many nights ahead of us.”

Ball’s homecoming was a huge success as he put in an action-packed performance against the 34-year-old Rios and battled through a broken nose, dropping him twice before finally stopping him in the 10th round.

“I always knew I hurt him,” Ball continued. “I saw in his eyes that he was devastated, he was getting up from the stool, exhausted. So I knew I just had to keep it, but at the same time take my time; stay on. He was threatening there sometimes. I knew I would get there, but it was only a matter of time and it finally came.

“I was getting hit harder, but he landed pristine right hands and jabbed me with something I shouldn’t have been hit with – as you can see by my nose. This is boxing, right? You learn from every fight, and I definitely learned something from it. So I’ll take that into consideration for the next fight.”

Ball had his sights set firmly on Rios, but that changed after the fight when he mentioned a rematch with Vargas and a fight with undisputed super bantamweight champion Inoue as potential options.

“I need a chance at Vargas because that’s my belt,” he said. “I should have it on the other shoulder, but it’s coming. Everything happens for a reason, so time will tell.

“[And] everyone talks about the name Inoue, right? He is a super bantamweight – there is no super bantamweight challenging him. But of course, if he comes to my weight, I will show him who this man is at this weight. Of course I will fight him 100 percent. He’s a top-class fighter and everyone says we’re fighting, so of course I’ll do it.”

Earlier this week, Ball visited Liverpool Football Club’s iconic Anfield to promote his date with Rios.

“[Fighting there] it would be a higher level,” Ball said. “I was there this week for a Champions League match [against Bologna] with dad and it was a special evening. I told him, “Imagine me fighting here, I will make it happen,” and I hope one day it will happen.