---
title: "Major opponent lined up for Nick Ball under one condition"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/ball-opponent-after-rios/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tom Eaton"
section: "News"
published: "2024-10-01T10:40:58Z"
modified: "2024-10-01T10:43:48Z"
---

# Major opponent lined up for Nick Ball under one condition

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball is preparing for a homecoming fight in Liverpool this weekend, making a voluntary defence of his title against California’s Ronny Rios. Should he win that contest and make a first defence of the belt, there is now a mammoth opportunity around the corner.

Ball announced himself onto the featherweight scene when he knocked out Isaac Lowe on the Fury-Whyte undercard at Wembley Stadium in April 2022 but since then his reputation has grown ten-fold.

A string of stoppage victories for the small but fearsome scouser saw 5’2” Ball rise up the rankings and a points win over Isaac Dogboe granted Ball the chance to challenge for world honours.

A contentious draw with WBC champion Rey Vargas on the Joshua-Ngannou bill impressed viewers and the world stage but it was against America’s Raymond Ford where Ball finally got his hands on a world title – edging a razor-thin split-decision.

Now, as world champion, Ball finds himself with a target on his head and the imminent move up in weight from pound-for-pound number one Naoya Inoue has got British fight fans hopeful of seeing ‘The Monster’ travel to fight in Old Blighty.

Meanwhile, Stephen Fulton, who [lost his super-bantamweight titles to Inoue last year](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/naoya-inoue-beats-stephen-fulton/), has also recently made the move up and was victorious on his 126lb debut against Carlos Castro last month.

**Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by [clicking here](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaXop9lLdQeaeTPH2y2i) and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.**

Today, the WBA have confirmed that ‘Cool Boy Steph’ has been installed as the #1 contender and the mandatory challenger for Ball’s title – teeing up a showdown between the front-footed ‘Wrecking’ Ball and the slick Philadelphian, [as per Boog Williams](https://www.twitter.com/Ovajay/status/1841058380338905117).

> [@coolboysteph](https://twitter.com/coolboysteph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is the new WBA #1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger Featherweight
>
> — Boog Williams (@Ovajay) [October 1, 2024](https://twitter.com/Ovajay/status/1841058380338905117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

*“@Coolboysteph is the new WBA #1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger Featherweight”*

[Speaking with Boxing News](https://youtu.be/hfTIfU2qnYY?si=wTD4HPUIHGzF76xX), before his split-decision win against Castro, Fulton outlined that Ball was his target and admitted that he felt the aggressive style of the WBA champion was a perfect match-up.

*“That \[Ball\] is the one that I want because that is the weight-class that I am number one for and this is an eliminator for that belt.*

*“They were close fights \[against Rey Vargas and Ray Ford\], close fights should go to the champion but it happens. S\*\*t happens.*

*“We will see, once we get past this, if we can line that up.*

*“\[We would match up\] perfect \[stylistically\] because he comes off as an aggressive, strong fighter and what we have been working on in camp is perfect for that.”*

Before Ball can look towards a scrap with Fulton, he must overcome Rios this Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool – where he [tops a bill featuring a host of domestic talent](https://queensberry.co.uk/allevents/ball-vs-rios/) that can be watched live on TNT Sports.

As for Inoue, the [Japanese sensation could look towards IBF featherweight champion Angelo Leo](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/naoya-inoue-called-out-by-new-world-champion-following-tj-doheny-win/), before a potential unification bout against the victor of Ball-Fulton in late 2025.

**Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by [clicking here](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaXop9lLdQeaeTPH2y2i) and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.**