Nick Ball: “Finishing the Year with a Fight in My Hometown – That’s a Special Night”

British WBA featherweight world champion Nick Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) exclusively shared his thoughts with Ready to Fight after his win over American Ronny Rios (34-5, 17 KOs).

– What a year it’s been, and how sweet was the homecoming?

– Yeah, sweet home, special. You know, to fight this year and end it with a homecoming in my home city—what a special night. When I was warming up with the lads, I didn’t really go out before the fight. I stayed at home, watching the other lads because they were fighting, so I had to stay focused. Then, when it was time to walk out, I looked up and thought, “Wow, this is big.” It was a mad feeling, but it’s one I’m proud to be a part of.

– They say it’s never easy winning a world title, but it’s even harder defending it. Ronny Rios was a tough guy, wasn’t he? He stayed with you.

– Yeah, that’s it. They’re all going to be tougher at this level. You know, this is elite-level boxing, and that’s what it is—tough. But it takes something deep inside to pull through, and yeah, I had that.

– Is it unification time for Nick Ball now?

– Yeah, 100%. Getting another belt, that’s what we’re in it for, aren’t we? So yeah, bring on that belt.

– Finally, top of the league with a good win at Crystal Palace today. You were at Anfield the other night. How brilliant would it be to be the first fighter to appear on the pitch at Anfield? We’ve talked about it for a long time—getting a big event there. Could this really happen?

– Yeah, it can happen. With the best team I’ve got around me—Team Queensberry, the best promoter in the game, Frank Warren—there’s no reason why it can’t happen. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing, keep working hard, and there’s no reason why it can’t happen. When I was sitting there watching the game with my dad, I tapped him and said, “Imagine fighting here,” and he just shook his head. I told him, “I’m going to make it happen.”

As a reminder, on October 5 in Liverpool, UK, Nick Ball defeated Ronnie Rios by 10th-round technical knockout.