Liverpool’s Nick Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) retained his WBA featherweight world title with a hard-fought unanimous choice over Australia’s Sam Goodman (20-1, 8 KOs) in the primary occasion Saturday night time, August 16, on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The judges had it 117-111, 118-110 and 115-113, in a contest that was tighter than two of the scorecards steered.
For Ball, 28, it was the third protection of the belt he captured in June 2024 towards Raymond Ford. Not like his earlier two defenses—each ended inside the gap—this one demanded grit and self-discipline towards a challenger who introduced motion, a pointy jab, and tactical persistence. Goodman, making his official transfer as much as featherweight, proved he can grasp with the elite, notably within the early rounds, the place he managed to sluggish Ball’s output.
Ball set the tone within the opening spherical with a crisp proper hook, however Goodman answered with slick lateral motion and a gradual jab that allowed him to steal some center frames. In spherical 5, Ball landed a heavy proper hand that rocked the Aussie, and from there the champion started to impose himself with sharper mixtures and relentless strain.
Down the stretch, Ball’s tempo was the distinction. A proper uppercut within the ninth punctuated his momentum, and he dominated the tenth and eleventh with energy punching. Goodman, although visibly slowing, confirmed resilience, standing his floor and exchanging within the ultimate spherical to shut the present with each males buying and selling leather-based in a rousing end.
The victory additional solidifies Ball as some of the lively and aggressive champions on as we speak’s schedule. His come-forward model, suffocating strain, and skill to regulate mid-fight have made him a standout determine within the British scene and past.
As for Goodman, the Australian tasted defeat for the primary time however earned respect. His adaptability, self-discipline, and toughness towards a reigning champion guarantee his identify stays related within the division. A return to the regional circuit may rapidly convey him again into the title combine.
