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World Championship Boxing: Ball v Rios

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BALL IS BACK IN LIVERPOOL

Doors Open at 3:15pm

THE WBA WORLD featherweight champion Nick Ball will make a first defence of his title in a Liverpool homecoming fight on Saturday 5 October at the M&S Bank Arena.

The last two fights for the 27-year-old have taken place in Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season, where in June, Ball (20-0-1, 11 KOs) was selected as part of the Queensberry team that took on Matchroom at the Kingdom Arena in the 5 vs 5 event and he successfully took the WBA title from then champion Ray Ford in a career-best performance.

Now back fighting back on home turf and fighting for the first time at the arena, Ball will face the experienced American, Ronny Rios (34-4, 17 KOs), who is coming off of a fifth-round KO victory back in April.

“I literally cannot wait to fight in Liverpool again, this time as a world champion,” said Ball. “It has been over four years and it will be really special for me.

“Local interest in me and the other lads in the city is growing all the time and we all want to make Liverpool a regular destination for Frank and Queensberry. We’ve got the fighters to make this happen and I am sure the people will get behind us all.

“It has been a dream year for me with two world title fights so far, so to cap it off by defending my belt at home is the icing on the cake and I am so excited.”

Also on the card, and following his dominant stoppage last time out in Birmingham, Andrew Cain (12-1, 11 KOs) will face Joshua John (10-2) for the Commonwealth and vacant British Bantamweight title, while the undefeated fighters Henry Turner (13-0, 5 KOs) and Jack Rafferty (23-0, 14 KOs) will fight for the Commonwealth, WBC International Silver and vacant British Super-Lightweight titles.

As well as this, the stacked card will also feature Cuban sensation Jadier Herrera (15-0, 13 KOs), local Liverpool lads Brad Strand (11-1-0, 3KOs) and Jack Turner (7-0, 6 KOs), plus Morecombe’s Nelson Birchall (4-0, 1 KOs).

Promoter Frank Warren added: “I am thrilled to be returning to Liverpool with a world title fight and, unquestionably, the best featherweight in the world in Nick Ball. His journey since beating Isaac Lowe at Wembley Stadium in 2022 has been a magical ride and nobody deserves a big homecoming more than Nick.

“It has long been our intention to deliver a home platform for our Liverpool contingent, but first we needed to develop them as star performers and major attractions. These boxes have been ticked in a big way by Nick and on October 5 we will be in for a special night at the M&S Bank Arena.”

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Getting Here

Train
Bus
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From the south...

Avanti West Coast operates hourly, direct services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street (with a journey time of just over two hours). Other long-distance rail services also operate into Liverpool Lime Street station.

M&S Bank Arena is a 20-minute walk from Lime Street or a short taxi ride. You can also transfer at Lime Street onto the underground Wirral Line trains to James Street station (10 minute walk) or catch the CityLink Route C4 (7am – 8pm) directly to the venue. If travelling from outside Merseyside, you can catch an underground train to James Street station from Lime Street station, inclusive of the cost of your train ticket.

Most Liverpool city centre bound buses will call at either Queen Square bus station (a 15-minute walk) or Liverpool ONE Bus Station, which is only a five minute walk to M&S Bank Arena.

For further information on bus routes within Merseyside, you can visit https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/customer-information/routes-and-maps/

For up-to-date information on all bus, train and ferry services, call Traveline Merseyside on 0871 200 22 33, open 8am – 8pm, 364 days a year or visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk

For all car journeys it's best to follow the white on brown tourist route signs for the Waterfront. These signs are visible on the major routes into the city. Exhibition Centre Liverpool is situated on the Kings Dock directly adjacent to the south side of the Albert Dock. Upon arrival, the Kings Dock entrance is clearly sign posted.

From the North...

Leave the M6 at junction 26 and follow signs for M58 Liverpool. Follow to end of M58 and then take signs for A59 Liverpool. Continue to follow Liverpool City Centre until picking up signs for the Waterfront.

From the South...

Leave the M6 at junction 21A and take the M62 to Liverpool. At the end of the M62 follow signs for Liverpool City Centre along Edge Lane, picking up and following signs for Waterfront.

Flying into Liverpool John Lennon Airport...

A taxi from the airport to the city centre will take approximately 20 minutes or the express bus service Route 500 will take approximately 25 minutes, dropping you off within a five minute walk of M&S Bank Arena, while Manchester’s international airport is just 45 minutes away by car.