Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios: Stephen Fulton Awaits
By Chris Carlson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Oct 2024
Nick Ball makes his first title defense against a veteran boxer in Ronny Rios. This main event will be streaming live on ESPN+ in the States in case boxing fans hadn’t heard the recent news. If successful it appears the WBA has named former 122-champ Stephen Fulton as Nick Ball’s mandatory. Ball is the clear favorite with his opponent Rios sitting around +700 to upwards of +920. That said the Liverpool native can’t put the cart before the horse with a huge matchup right around the corner.
Nick Ball is an all-action, aggressive boxer who goes head first into the chest of his opposition. Ball gives away height and reach yet has a way of giving quality fighters fits. Whether you believe Ball deserved his victory over Raymond Ford, Nick outhustled him. To be fair landing and throwing more punches doesn’t automatically equate to a win.
Ball doesn’t have major power but his relentless pressure and punch output along with having plenty of pop makes him a hard out. Three outings ago he scored a unanimous decision over a faded but still game Isaac Dogboe. Ball then had a split-draw to a tactical boxer in Rey Vargas. Nick’s fight with Ford could’ve been scored a draw and many folks thought Raymond had done enough. Hopefully in the future these guys can do it again.
Ronny Rios has losses to Murodjon Akhamadaliev, Azat Hovhannisyan, Rey Vargas and Robison Castellanos. Rios’s best wins were Jayson Velez, Andrew Cancio, and somewhat recently Oscar Negrete. Having been stopped 3 times and now Rios, age 24, a knockout for Nick Ball is on the table. This boxing podcaster doesn’t see a legit path to victory beyond a serious injury for Ball or a punchers chance. No disrespect to Ronny Rios who’s had a fine career as a pro.
This should be what we use to call a fun ‘TV’ scrap because of the styles blending well together. At the end of the day this boxing junkie doesn’t believe Ronny Rios will use his length advantage effectively enough to win 7 or more rounds. Could Rios attempt to box on the outside, sure but the swarming offense of Ball will overwhelm Rios. Good to great two-way action becomes one-sided in the middle rounds.
My Official Prediction is Nick Ball by Unanimous Decision.
PODCAST LINK: http://tobtr.com/12373757
Side Note: On DAZN Randall vs. Figueroa and Rivas vs. Kreps on ESPN Knockout are the most equally matchup fights on paper for the weekend.
Written by Chris Carlson Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Available at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Chris Carlson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
Tue, 03 Mar 2026STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS
Tue, 03 Mar 2026The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
Tue, 03 Mar 2026Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
Tue, 03 Mar 2026“Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
Mon, 02 Mar 2026Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Mar 2026Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
Mon, 02 Mar 2026Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
Mon, 02 Mar 2026HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
Mon, 02 Mar 2026Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
Mon, 02 Mar 2026Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
Sun, 01 Mar 2026Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 01 Mar 2026