Connor O’Neill reports after Nick Ball was taken the distance by Sam Goodman
Nick Ball celebrates victory over Sam Goodman(Image: (Richard Pelham/Getty Images))
Nick Ball wasted no time in calling out Naoya Inoue after he retained his status as Britain’s only male world champion. Ball retained his WBA featherweight title with a battling performance against Sam Goodman in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
After 12 rounds of boxing, the three judges sitting at ringside scored the contest 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113, all in favour of the Everton Red Triangle fighter. The 28-year-old from Kirkby headed into the fight knowing that a defeat would bring an end to the UK’s 37-year world title run.
Since Clinton Woods’ light-heavyweight reign in 2005, the UK has had an active male world champion with a recognised organisation.
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Ball also knew that a defeat in Riyadh would harm his chances of securing a mega showdown with Inoue.
The Japanese fighter, who is the reigning WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine super-bantamweight champion, has demolished every opponent on his way to claiming world titles in four different weight classes.
But Ball now has his eyes on a showdown with the 32-year-old, admitting: “It has been spoken about that much; everyone wants it to happen. Let’s make it happen.
“There are three more belts out there and I wouldn’t mind fighting for them. Or the other big names.”
Despite suffering a cut to the side of his right eye in the final round, Ball more than deserved to come out on top.
However, praise must go to Goodman, who certainly showed why he was previously unbeaten and challenging for a world title.
“It was good,” Ball said. “I’m still obviously a world champion, but it probably wasn’t my best performance, in my honest opinion. But the main thing is that we got the job done.
“I’m still champion. I probably got hit a bit too much. Mostly it was on the gloves. I’ll have to watch it back. That’s what champions do, no matter what situation they’re in.
“They always come through. I just want to keep fighting and keep improving. Obviously being in with the other big names, the big title fights, that’s the aim.
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Nick Ball will defend his WBA featherweight title on Saturday, August 16, when he fights Sam Goodman in Riyadh.
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“It’s a special trip. Every time I come over here, it’s special to me. It’s like my second home. I appreciate everyone who comes out. I wouldn’t be here without any of them.
“He was quite slippery. He was tough as well; I landed a few good shots on him and I had him hurt, but he came through it. Respect to him.
“When people are watching boxing, they like watching exciting fights and my fights are always exciting, so people are going to continue to watch.”
Reflecting on the victory, Ball’s promoter, Frank Warren, said: “He did well, didn’t he? He was in with an opponent who came to fight.
“I have got to take my hat off to the Aussie. He really gave everything he had and he had his moments in the fight, but I thought Nick at the end of the day pulled away and deserved the win.
“You look at the level Nick is fighting at, the level of opponents he is fighting; they are either undefeated or world champions. You can’t do no more than that. I love him.”