Nick Ball Retains WBA World Featherweight Title After Tough Battle
In a demonstration of tenacity and skill, Nick Ball successfully defended his WBA featherweight title by defeating Sam Goodman by unanimous decision.
Ball, the only reigning British world boxing champion, connected more power punches and outlanded Goodman in punch volume. However, the Australian’s jab and mobility allowed him to win some rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 28-year-old boxer from Liverpool, England, with a record of 22-0-1 (13 KOs), obtained cards of 117-111, 118-110 and 115-113. The fight seemed closer than what two of the judges’ scorecards reflected.
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. Goodman proved to be a more complicated opponent with his intelligent boxing.
It was good, but it wasn’t the best performance. But I did the job. I got a little too involved.
Nick Ball
Ball expressed his desire to keep improving and face the biggest names. Possible next opponents for Ball would be WBO champion Rafael Espinoza, to unify titles at 126 pounds, 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 (20-0, 8 KOs), 26, from New South Wales, Australia, had an admirable performance after moving up a division to face Ball and had only fought once in the last year due to cuts.Nick Ball hits Sam Goodman during his successful defense of the WBA world featherweight title.
Ball didn’t take long to get into rhythm and connected a precise right hook at the end of the first round, but Goodman settled into the fight and by the fourth round was limiting Ball’s attacks with his jab. Both exchanged hooks at the end of the fourth round, but in the fifth, Ball connected a big right hand that staggered Goodman.
The heaviest blows came from Ball, but Goodman was effective at times with his jab and movement. Some of the rounds swung back and forth, as Goodman kept responding 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 movement 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 fistfight as they sought the knockout.
Ford Advances in Super Lightweight
The former WBA featherweight champion, Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs), 26, from New Jersey, achieved his third victory at super lightweight since losing the belt to Ball, by defeating Abraham Nova (24-4-1, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision in a classy performance.
Ford, whose movement was too good for Nova, won with scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 97-93 in a 10-round fight with no title at stake.
Nova, born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, 31 years old, exerted good pressure in the third round, but Ford produced some quality punches while leaning on 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 in the four major world boxing organizations and his variety of punches, his tight defense on the back foot and his ring intelligence will give all world champions problems.
Hrgovic Overcomes a Cut and Defeats Adeleye
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 in a tumultuous eighth round, as the Croatian triumphed with unanimous cards of 98-91, 99-90 and 99-90.
It wasn’t easy for Hrgovic. Adeleye opened a horrible cut on Hrgovic’s right eyelid with a left hand 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 a crucial job on the cut, allowing Hrgovic to regain ground in rounds 4 and 5.
For the sixth, Hrgovic was in control, but both had their moments in an exciting eighth. Hrgovic turned Adeleye’s legs to jelly with a hard right hand early in the eighth round, and then knocked Adeleye down with a right to the temple. After receiving the count, Adeleye came out swinging and Hrgovic was left staggering around the ring after a furious flurry of hooks.
Hrgovic regained control and his precision, as well as his punch output, ensured that the decision was never in doubt.
