Nick Ball Successfully Defends His World Title in a Tough Battle
In a demonstration of tenacity and skill, Nick Ball defended his WBA featherweight world title for the third time, overcoming Sam Goodman by unanimous decision.
Ball, the only reigning British world champion at present, connected more powerful blows and outlanded Goodman in terms of punch volume. However, the Australian’s jab and mobility allowed him to win some rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 28-year-old English boxer, known for his aggressiveness, scored 117-111, 118-110 and 115-113, results that reflected a closer fight than two of the judges perceived.
After winning the WBA belt with a split decision over Raymond Ford in June 2024, Ball had won his previous two defenses before the limit. However, Goodman proved to be a more difficult opponent, thanks to his intelligent boxing.
It was good, but it wasn’t the best performance. But I did the job. I got a little too into the fight.
Nick Ball
Ball expressed his desire to keep improving and facing the best boxers.
The possible next rivals for Ball could be the WBO champion, Rafael Espinoza, to unify the 126-pound title, or even a dream fight against Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super featherweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
Goodman, 26, from New South Wales, Australia, had an admirable performance after stepping up in division to face Ball and had only fought once in the last year due to cuts.Ball didn’t take long to get into the rhythm and connected a right hook in the first round. Goodman settled into the fight and, by the fourth round, was limiting Ball’s attacks with his jab. Both exchanged blows at the end of the fourth round, but in the fifth, Ball connected a big right hand that staggered Goodman.
The most telling blows came from Ball, but Goodman was effective at times with his jab and his mobility. Some of the rounds swung back and forth, as Goodman responded to prevent Ball from dominating.
Ball connected a right uppercut in the ninth round and more good punches in the tenth, and the Liverpool boxer was more active in the eleventh. Goodman’s mobility in and out of range was less evident in the final rounds, allowing Ball to connect more punches. However, in the last round, both let their hands go in a slugfest as they sought the knockout.
Ford Advances in Super Lightweight Weight
The former WBA featherweight champion, Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs), 26, from New Jersey, secured his third super lightweight victory since losing the belt to Ball, by defeating Abraham Nova (24-4-1, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision in a classy performance.
Ford, whose mobility was too astute for Nova, won with cards of 96-94, 97-93 and 97-93 in a 10-round fight with no title at stake.
Nova, 31 years old and born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, exerted good pressure in the third round, but Ford produced some quality punches while against the ropes in the fourth. By the fifth round, Ford was unloading regular combinations and a left hook to the jaw shook Nova in the sixth.
Ford is in the top five of the four global governing bodies and his variety of punches, his solid defense in retreat and his intelligence in the ring will give problems to all world champions.
Hrgovic Overcomes Cut and Defeats Adeleye by Decision
Filip Hrgovic (19-1, 14 KOs), who missed the opportunity to fight for the IBF world title when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois last June, overcame an early cut to outwork and outpoint David Adeleye (14-2-1, 13 KOs).
Hrgovic sent Adeleye to the canvas before appearing stunned himself in a tumultuous eighth round, while the Croatian triumphed with unanimous scores of 98-91, 99-90, 99-90.
It wasn’t easy for Hrgovic. Adeleye opened a horrible cut on Hrgovic’s right eyelid with a left hook in the second round and the Londoner then connected a big left hook in the third, which the Croatian managed to overcome.
Hrgovic’s trainer, Abel Sánchez, did crucial work on the cut, allowing Hrgovic to get back into the fight in rounds 4 and 5.
For the sixth round, Hrgovic was in control, but both had their moments in an exciting eighth. Hrgovic turned Adeleye’s legs to jelly with a strong right hand at the beginning of the eighth round, and then knocked Adeleye down with a right hand to the temple. After receiving the count, Adeleye came out swinging and Hrgovic was staggering around the ring after a furious flurry of hooks.
Hrgovic regained control and his precision, as well as the number of punches, ensured that the decision was never in doubt.
