New WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball targets rematch with WBC champion Rey Vargas

NICK BALL is targeting a rematch with Rey Vargas after winning his first world title last night (June 1).

The Liverpudlian defeated New Jersey's Raymond Ford by split decision (115-113, 115-113, 113-115) to become the WBA featherweight world champion and put another point on the Queensberry board in their 5 vs. 5 against Matchroom in the Kingdom. Arena in Riyadh. Ball's victory came three months after a draw with Vargas, also in Riyadh, who retained his WBC title in a fight many believe Ball should have won.

Although he was satisfied with Ford's victory, it was not enough for the 27-year-old who is determined to run it with Vargas.

“I need my blue and gold belt, that's mine,” said Ball Debate News after his win.

“I need that, so I'm coming for it. That's my belt, everybody knows that, so it's time to put it on my shoulder and get that fight, but we'll see what happens.”

Ball becomes the second Briton to hold the WBA title after Leigh Wood's two-time reign between 2021 and 2023. The 126lbs division has been a success for British boxing over the years and in addition to Ball and Wood – previous featherweight world champions from the UK have included Josh Warrington, Lee Selby, Paul Ingle, Naseem Hamed, Scott Harrison, Paul Hodkinson , Steve Robinson, Colin McMillan and back as Howard Winstone in 1968.

Ball's victory brings the total number of British men's boxing championships to four. Chris Billam-Smith (WBO cruiserweight), Lawrence Okolie (WBC bridgerweight), Anthony Cacace (IBF super-featherweight) and Nick Ball (WBA featherweight).