Nick Ball defended his WBA featherweight world title with a 10th-round TKO victory over Ronny Rios at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, on Saturday.
Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs), of Liverpool, scored knockdowns in the third, seventh and 10th rouns before Rios’ corner stopped the fight. Rios went through the ropes during the last knockdown and landed on the ring apron. He was able to get up before the count, but his corner stopped the fight before the round resumed.
When asked after the fight about a possible Vargas rematch, Ball welcomed the opportunity.
“I’ve got one [belt] of four. There’s another three out there. So, coming for them. Coming for them belts. It’ll be nice to get [Vargas’ title] because that should be mine anyway, so hopefully I get that one.
Ball challenged for the WBC featherweight title against Ray Vargas in March, but the fight ended in a split draw.
Rios (34-5, 17 KOs), of Compton, California, has challenged for the junior featherweight title twice, both losses, to Vargas in 2017 and Murodjon Akhmadaliev in 2022, before losing to Ball in a third attempt to win a world title. He was coming off a fifth-round KO of Nicolas Polanco back in April.
Full Ball vs. Rios recap here…
Where can I watch the Ball vs. Rios fight card replay?
The Ball vs. Rios fight card replay can be streamed on ESPN+.
Watch: Download the ESPN App | WatchESPN | TV
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Ball vs. Rios fight card results:
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Title fight: Nick Ball defeated Ronny Rios by 10th-round TKO to retain his WBA featherweight title
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Jack Rafferty defeated Henry Turner by TKO9 to win the British junior welterweight title
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Jack Turner defeated Gonzalo Corinaldesi by KO1 in a bantamweight bout
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Walter Fury defeated Dale Arrowsmith by UD4 in a junior middleweight bout
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Jadier Herrera defeated Oliver Flores by TKO3 in a lightweight bout
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Andrew Cain defeated Lazaro Casseres by TKO2 in a bantamweight bout
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Joe Cooper defeated Lukasz Barabasz by UD4 in a middleweight bout
Alimkhanuly stops Mikhailovich, retains IBF middleweight title
Janibek Alimkhanuly defended his IBF middleweight title with a ninth-round TKO victory over Andrei Mikhailovich on Friday at The Star Sydney in Pyrmont, Australia.
The fight ended after Alimkhanuly landed two consecutive left uppercuts that sent Mikhailovich stumbling backward, forcing referee Katsuhiko Nakamura to stop the bout 2:45 minutes into the round.
Alimkhanuly hurt Mikhailovich with the same punch in Round 2 and scored a knockdown at the sound of the bell, but Mikhailovich recovered. From there, it was just a matter of time, with Alimkhanuly finding separation and landing his left hand often against the pressure of Mikhailovich.
After the fight, Alimkhanuly said he would like to unify the titles against the other two champions.
“I do have two titles, and the [other] two titles are missing,” Alimkhanuly said. “Any of them, [Carlos] Adames or [Erislandy] Lara, I’m ready. Anytime, whatever, send me a paper. I’ll send it anytime.”
The fight was originally scheduled for July 13 in Las Vegas, but two days before that date, Alimkhanuly fainted while trying to make weight and was taken to the hospital and forced to withdraw with severe dehydration.
Alimkhanuly (16-0, 11 KOs), of Zhilandy, Kazakhstan, but now living and training in Oxnard, California, won the WBO middleweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over Denzel Bentley in November 2022. He made one defense in May 2023, a second-round KO of Steve Butler, before dispatching Vincenzo Gualtieri in six rounds in October last year to add the IBF title. The WBO title wasn’t on the line against Mikhailovich.
Mikhailovich (21-1, 13 KOs) is a power puncher with long arms (74½ inches) from Auckland, New Zealand. He had won seven of his past eight fights by stoppage before losing to Alimkhanuly.
Mikhailovich was born in Russia but relocated to New Zealand after he and his brother were adopted.
Where can I watch the Alimkhanuly vs. Mikhailovich fight card replay?
The Alimkhanuly vs. Mikhailovich fight card replay can be streamed on ESPN+.
Watch: Download the ESPN App | WatchESPN | TV
Don’t have ESPN? Learn how to get instant access today: ESPNInstantAccess.com
Alimkhanuly vs. Mikhailovich fight card results:
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Title fight: Janibek Alimkhanuly defeated Andrei Mikhailovich by ninth-round KO to retain the IBF middleweight title
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Mea Motu defeated Shannon O’Connell by TKO4 in a women’s featherweight bout
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Charlie Kazzi defeated Lui Magaiva by TKO7 in a lightweight bout
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Ahmed Reda defeated Joe Kara by TKO 2 in a lightweight bout