‘No place like home’published at 23:32 British Summer Time 5 October
Ball beats Rios by stoppage
WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: “Probably hasn’t sunk in yet, when I get back to the changing room, let it sink in it’s going to be special to look back on.
“I’ve boxed all over the world that was different, no place like home.”
On the finish: “That’s what we train for stuff like that, take them out. Hats off to him, he caught me with a few on my nose.”
On whether he was surprised how tough Rios was: “He’s had loads of experience, more fights than me, if anything I overestimate opponents and train hard for them so not really no but trickier than expected.
“To be honest I think it was all because of how good the crowd was I thought I had him gone and I was wrong, switched off, let myself open.”
On keeping active: “That’s active – three fights in one year so massive thanks to my team and Frank Warren kept me active, given me this homecoming like I deserved and like they promised me so thanks a lot to them.”
On whether he’s taking any time off: “Probably a week off and get back in.”
On who he wants to fight next: “I’d like the [Rey] Vargas fight, get the green and gold [WBC] belt.”
On fighting in Liverpool: “It just shows you Liverpool always back their own, that was proof. Hard work pays off. I started off on small shows, my professional debut was in a nightclub and now I’m here. It’s just nights I dream of and it’s come true.”