
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:
JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
Thu, 10 Jul 2025