Ball to cap 'dream year' with Liverpool world title defence

Nick Ball will make nan first defence of his WBA featherweight title against Ronny Rios connected 5 October astatine nan M&S Arena successful Liverpool.

Ball, 27, returns to his hometown arsenic a world champion for nan first clip and has not fought successful Liverpool for almost 4 years.

The Briton won nan WBA title successful June and is undefeated successful 21 fights.

"It has been a dream twelvemonth for maine pinch 2 world title fights truthful far, truthful to headdress it disconnected by defending my loop astatine location is nan icing connected nan barroom and I americium truthful excited," Ball said.

Ball defeated Raymond Ford to portion him of his WBA title aft suffering heartbreak against WBC champion Rey Vargas successful March due to a arguable draw.

Frank Warren, Ball's promoter, believes his combatant is "unquestionably" nan champion featherweight successful nan world.

Alongside Rhiannon Dixon, Ball is nan only undefeated British world champion, though nan Liverpudlian has nan tie connected his record.

Challenger Rios has doubly contested world titles astatine super-bantamweight and has 4 losses successful 38 fights.

The American will beryllium fighting extracurricular of nan United States for nan first clip arsenic a professional.