Ball overwhelmed Rios with his normal tornado-like attack that the aging Rios tried to defend against but was unable to deflect the aggressive Ball's punches.
Ball almost finished Rios in the third round when he knocked down the veteran and had him on the verge of a stoppage.
Ball would knock Rios down in the seventh before delivering a fierce battering to Rios in the tenth, knocking him through the ropes with Rios rolling under the lower rope and rising to his feet but his corner surrendered for their fighter.
Give Rios credit for an incredibly brave effort in his third and likely final chance at a world title, as he could have packed it in on several occasions but battled on and gave it everything he had.
As for Nick Ball, he has put himself in the Honorable Mention consideration for fighter of the year with his title-winning split decision over Raymond Ford in a great fight, a draw against Rey Vargas for Vargas's WBC title in which Ball dropped Vargas twice and this win over Rios.
Ball would make interesting fights against any of the other champions Rey Vargas (WBC), Angelo Leo (IBF) Rafael Espinoza (WBO), or Robeisy Ramirez, should Ramirez defeat Espinosa in their rematch later this year.
A fight against minor beltholder Brandon Figueroa would be an almost guaranteed war and Raymond Ford certainly deserves a rematch should he decide to stay in the featherweight division.
Boxing Challenge
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