Nick Ball makes a first defence of his WBA featherweight title, as he takes on Ronny Rios at the Echo Arena in Liverpool this Saturday.
Frank Warren’s Queensberry promote Ball vs Rios, with TNT Sports televising live in the UK, while the card is broadcast on ESPN+ in the USA.
Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) can count himself unfortunate not to have been crowned world champion prior to his momentous world title win in June, as he was held to a draw by Rey Vargas in a bid for the WBC title in March, despite scoring two knockdowns against the Mexican.
The 27-year-old wouldn’t have to wait long for redemption, as he turned in a superb performance in dethroning Ray Ford via split decision in Riyadh to win the belt he defends in his hometown this weekend.
Rios (34-4, 17 KOs) represents a safe first defence for ‘Wrecking’ Ball, with the 34-year-old failing in two previous world title attempts at super bantamweight, including against the aforementioned Vargas.
After being halted in the final round for the IBF belt at in June 2022, the Californian took nearly two years out, and returned at featherweight in April, knocking out Nicholas Polanco in five rounds.
Prediction: Ball is a real pressure fighter and a throwback, and I feel he will pile the heat on the American here, and wear Rios down for a stoppage down the stretch.
Cain clashes with Casseres
Andrew Cain has rebounded well from his shock split decision loss to Ionut Baluta last March, and he goes for the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Lazaro Casseres.
Cain (12-1, 11 KOs) was last seen in Birmingham in July, stopping Ashley Lane to take the British and Commonwealth belts, while Casseres (11-1, 4 KOs) is on a seven-fight winning streak since a sole professional defeat.
Prediction: Cain should be able to halt the Colombian, who was stopped the only other time that he ventured out of his home country.
Rafferty tackles Turner
Commonwealth super lightweight champion, Jack Rafferty puts his title on the line against WBC International Silver champion, Henry Turner, with the vacant British belt also up for grabs in a 12 round contest.
Rafferty (23-0, 14 KOs) won his Commonwealth crown by demolishing Lee Appleyard for a first round win in December last year, and took a third round win against Sabari Jaishankar in June.
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Turner (13-0, 5 KOs) won his belt in 2022, and has defended four times, the last a fifth round stoppage of Maykol Mendoza in April.
Prediction: Rafferty looks a talent, and this could well be a thriller. I lean towards Rafferty to go home with all three belts with a win on the cards.
Remaining Undercard
The second and final ten rounder after Cain vs Casseres sees talented Cuban Jadier Herrera (15-0, 13 KOs) feature and the lightweight starlet can take yet another early win, this time against Oliver Flores (31-5-2, 20 KOs) of Nicaragua.
In eight rounders, lightweight James McGivern (9-0, 3 KOs) can win on points against Argentina’s Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (17-16-2, 7 KOs), a man that knocked Archie Sharp down twice before losing on points in May.
Super bantamweight talent, Brad Strand (11-1, 3 KOs) is coming off a loss for the British and Commonwealth titles to Dennis McCann, but should return to winning ways here with a win on the scorecards against Marvin Solano (24-19, 8 KOs).
In six round action, Jack Turner (8-0, 7 KOs) may have to settle for a points success against the tough Gonzalo Corinaldesi (5-6-1, 1 KO) at bantamweight, and Nelson Birchall (5-0, 2 KOs) should do the same in his super featherweight clash with Mark Butler (3-12, 1 KO).
Heavyweight hope, Boma Brown (4-0, 2 KOs) will have to settle for a points victory over Amine Boucetta (8-16).
In four rounders, Walter Fury (1-0) should triumph on the scorecard against Dale Arrowsmith (6-114-5, 1 KO) in their super welterweight affair, and at middleweight, Joe Cooper (1-0) should also take a decision against Lukasz Barabasz (4-13, 2 KOs).
Debutant Lucas Biswana should start win a points victory over Jakub Laskowski (4-31-1, 2 KOs).
