This matchup is intriguing for two reasons. First is the tactical aspect—both Nick Ball and Sam Goodman are offensive-minded fighters. They approach it differently: Ball applies relentless pressure, constantly pushing forward to smother and hurt his opponent, throwing in high volume and aiming to trap them. Goodman is also an aggressive fighter but couples it with clever footwork—bouncing in and out, lateral movement, and a steady jab. He remains active, accurate, and on the attack.

The key question: who will outwork the other, and which game plan will prevail—or be forced—depending on the opponent’s tactics?

The second factor is the storyline. Goodman is the second straight fighter linked to Naoya Inoue to face Ball. Nick has openly expressed his desire to fight the Japanese superstar.

Ball is 28, Goodman just 26—both young but battle-tested. Goodman’s top opponent so far is TJ Doheny, his most seasoned and skilled foe. Ball also fought Doheny and holds wins over Raymond Ford, Eduardo Vargas (officially a draw, but Nick looked superior), and Isaac Dogboe. On paper, Ball’s résumé is clearly deeper.

Perhaps the most compelling stat: Goodman averages over 500 punches per fight, impressive in itself—but Ball surpasses 700. Still, volume isn’t everything. Goodman is far more accurate, with 38% overall accuracy to Ball’s 25%. His jab is markedly better—35% accuracy versus Ball’s 17%—and even in power shots, where Ball is aggressive, Goodman leads 40% to 32%.

Both fighters’ punch volume steadily drops as fights progress, but their accuracy climbs—showing they can maintain focus and sharpness in the late rounds.

Goodman has twice been on the brink of an Inoue fight, only for it to fall through due to training-camp cuts. He returned with a win over Espinoza in spring 2025. Ball’s schedule is similar—one fight this year, stopping Doheny in the 10th round after a challenging bout.

Neither is a huge puncher—Ball’s stoppage rate is just under 60%, Goodman’s 40%. However, Ball throws more than 400 power punches per fight to Goodman’s 300, with accuracy rates of 32% and 40%, respectively. They may not often score one-punch KOs, but both consistently land telling shots that wear down opponents and set up late stoppages.

Both have solid durability. Ball has handled punchers like Ford and Vargas, while Goodman’s movement makes him hard to hit clean. That said, Goodman’s tendency to cut and Ball’s defensive openings on the attack could play a role. With Goodman’s accuracy, he’ll have chances to catch the aggressive Brit coming in.

Goodman has never fought in Saudi Arabia, and this will be his first bout outside Oceania. Ball, by contrast, will be in Riyadh for the third time, having scored a win and a draw there. He’s popular locally, and Turki Alalshikh reportedly sees him as a future Inoue opponent.

For Goodman, this is about reclaiming momentum toward an Inoue fight—beating Ball would be the perfect statement. Ball, meanwhile, is one of Britain’s hottest boxing names and also close to an Inoue shot, hence his fights with the Japanese star’s past and potential opponents.

Ultimately, this comes down to who proves the better boxer on the night. Goodman’s size and skill could be a real problem for Ball, especially if the Brit struggles as he did at times against Doheny—who isn’t as technically polished as Goodman. On the other hand, if Ball can draw Goodman into his kind of fight, trading and grinding in close quarters, his tenacity could carry the day.

The odds lean toward Ball, but Goodman’s style and stats suggest he could be one of the toughest tests of Nick’s career.