Ball fought two world title bouts in Saudia Arabia earlier this year, drawing with one champion in March and then beating a previously unbeaten champion to win the WBA featherweight title at the Matchroom vs Queensberry event in June.
He has been fighting in the shadow of Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua against Daniel Dubois; fights that big often cast a heavy shadow over the rest of the business. Ball has slipped under the boxing radar. This Saturday, he returns to his beloved Liverpool for a defence against California’s Ronny Rios and he is the main attraction, the main event in the homecoming. “It’s my time now, my city – this is why we fight,” Ball said.
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