Nick Ball will defend his WBA featherweight world title against Sam Goodman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight's set for Saturday as part of the Esports World Cup event. Both fighters are undefeated, so the title will stay with a boxer who's never lost - unless there's a draw.
Ball, the current champion, has a record of 22 wins and 1 draw. He's defended his title twice already. His last defense was a win against TJ Doheny. Now, he's more settled as a world champion and has a big incentive to win.
Goodman, the challenger, has 20 wins and no losses. He's moving up in weight for this fight. For him, it's a big chance to take control of the division.
The money involved in this fight is significant. Ball is expected to earn about $1.2 million. That's a big jump from his last title defense, where he made $500,000. His earnings have been going up steadily. He started out making $50,000 per fight against opponents like Nathanael Kakololo and Isaac Lowe. Then he moved up to $75,000 for fights with Ludumo Lamati and Jesus Ramirez Rubio. His last few fights, including ones against Raymond Ford, Rey Vargas, and Isaac Dogboe, earned him $100,000 each.
"This is my first million-dollar challenge," Ball said. "It's a big incentive. If I win, I'll be in line for even bigger purses in the future."
Goodman is set to make about $500,000 for this fight. His biggest payday so far was $200,000 for his unanimous decision win over Cesar Vaca in May. That fight was in Sydney, Australia. Goodman nearly had a chance at a million-dollar payday against Naoya Inoue in the super bantamweight division, but that fight didn't happen.
"This is my big chance to climb to the top," Goodman said. "I'm moving up in weight, but I'm ready for the challenge."
The co-main event of the night will be a heavyweight clash between Moser Itauma and Dillian Whyte.
This fight is a big deal for both boxers. For Ball, it's a chance to cement his status as champion and set himself up for even bigger fights. For Goodman, it's an opportunity to become a world champion and start making his mark in a new weight class.
The fight will go for 12 rounds, giving both fighters plenty of time to show their skills. With both men undefeated, fans can expect a tough, competitive match. The winner will not only keep the WBA featherweight world title but also prove they're the best of the best in the division.
