Quickfire Ball Puts Mexican To The Sword

NICK BALL RETAINED his WBC Silver featherweight title with a spectacularly brutal first round stoppage of Mexican Jesus Ramirez Rubio at York Hall on Friday night

Ball moved to 17-0 (10 KOs) to conclude a huge breakthrough year that started for him in April when he announced himself via a resounding defeat of Isaac Lowe at Wembley Stadium.

Now he has got world titles on his mind as he looks towards 2023.

"I just came out with a fast jab, used my boxing and stayed switched on," explained the 25-year-old following his Mexican demolition. "Then I let my hands go and that was it. I can't really remember much because it was fast and I'll have to watch it back.

"Overall, I can't complain about a first round knockout and I'm made up with it.

"It is going to be a big 2023, definitely. I've just got to keep winning, keep staying active and keep putting statement performances on. Only good things will come, like world titles and that is what I want. I don't see why they can't come next year."

Rubio was spared further punishment by referee Victor Loughlin with just 1.48 on the clock, having been put to the canvas three times, mostly by way of concussive left hooks.

This was predicted to be a stern test of Ball's credentials, with Rubio himself having 14 KOs to his name and just a single defeat. In the end, the Liverpool man was simply irresistible and looks certain to be a big, big player on the featherweight circuit from now on.

David Adeleye was also in no mood for an extended shift in the ring, with the Ladbroke Grove heavyweight dispatching another Mexican, Elvis Garcia after 2.27 of round two and also putting his opponent down three times, by way of a left hook and two big rights. Kieran McCann officiated and Adeleye has now reached double figures as a professional, with nine wins coming via KO.

The Hutch Train is back on track and Willy Hutchinson certainly looks to have recaptured his mojo. The young Scot stopped Luca Spadaccini after 1.26 of round seven when Lee Every counted out the Italian, who appeared to be complaining of a hand injury, but was essentially outclassed and twice put down.

Hutchinson, now 15-1 (11 KOs), started in an explosive fashion, peppering his opponent from all angles and looking every bit the shining elite prospect he did before suffering defeat to Lennox Clarke at super middleweight.

He eased off a little in rounds four and five, but was never in danger and a rejuvenated Hutchinson will be looking for big things in 2023.

Featherweight Umar Khan won every round over six against Alexander Taylor and, at times, looked like he might register a first stoppage. It was a quality display nonetheless and Kieran McCann awarded him a shutout victory 60-54 and he moves to 5-0.

Maidstone welterweight Sean Noakes took himself to 3-0 with a convincing victory over Petar Aleksandrov over four. Noakes started and finished strongly and Lee Every deemed him winning by a 40-36 margin.

Big cruiserweight bruiser Aloys Jr Youmbi put his record into credit with a second round stoppage of Pawel Strykowski. The Pole was put to the floor on three occasions and Kieran McCann called time with 2.53 on the clock. Aloys is now 2-1 (2 KOs).

New Queensberry signing Carl Fail opened the show and put on an impressive display at super welterweight to outfox and outbox the tough and tricky Dwain Grant. The now 7-0 (2 KOs) Fail was made to work hard but did more than enough to win 40-36 on the card of referee Lee Every.