Nick Ball vs Sam Goodman: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

Nick Ball has been every bit the ‘Wrecking Ball’ over his last couple of fights, forcing TJ Doheny’s corner to stop their March fight at the end of the 10^th round and producing a 10^th-round TKO of Ronny Rios prior to that in October.

The British fighter will look for his third straight WBA featherweight world title defense Saturday when he clashes with Sam Goodman at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

Goodman last defeated Cesar Vaca Espinoza in May via unanimous decision with the clash against Ball being his first world title opportunity.

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Will Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) plow through Goodman in another dominating victory? Or will Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs) become a world champion with his best performance to date?

DAZN News analyzes who has the edge heading into this world title bout.

Boxing Styles

Nick Ball is at his best plowing forward with pressure but can also sit on the back foot and load up on power punches.

It is commonplace for the 5-foot-2 ‘Wrecking Ball’ to work behind a tight, disciplined guard and double up on the jab — the second of which being thrown as a distraction for the Brit to unleash a pounding right hand.

Ball also changes levels to bang the body effectively.

Like Ball, Sam Goodman generates pressure to walk opponents down.

Goodman steps into his left-handed jab with spring-like action. Once the punch lands with succession, ‘The Ghost’ is then able to funnel the rest of his offense through it with quick-handed, peppery blows and combinations.

The Australian also uses a range-finding left hand to brush back opponents just enough to create the ring real estate to launch stiff left hooks and slicing uppercuts.

If there is a knock to Goodman’s style, it might be his tendency to lower his guard to chest level — something that Ball could look to exploit.

Edge: Ball

Power

Where Goodman’s power is a bit more pointed and stinging, Ball is more potent with his pop.

Switching between a battering ram style and unforgiving counterpunching, the 28-year-old Ball forced TJ Doheny’s corner to stop their March fight. Prior to that, he produced a 10^th-round TKO of Ronny Rios.

Meanwhile, seven of Goodman’s last eight fights have been won on points.

Edge: Ball

Mental Warfare

Both men own undefeated ledgers though this marks Goodman’s first crack at becoming a world champion, while Ball seeks his third straight defense of the WBA featherweight world title.

Also, Ball’s quality of opponents is far superior as he has defeated the likes of TJ Doheny, Raymond Ford and Isaac Dogboe, while fighting Rey Vargas to a draw. All are former world champions, giving Ball the experience edge and the mental advantage that might come with it.

That said, this is Goodman’s chance to show and prove he is world champion material, so he has urgency on his side.

This is a closer category with the slight edge going to the champ.

Edge: Ball

Who has the edge in Ball vs Goodman?

Nick Ball had a busy 2024, fighting Vargas to a split draw before defeating Ford to become the new WBA featherweight world champion and then beating Ronny Rios to defend the title.

He is coming off of forcing Doheny’s corner to end their bout in March and is seemingly gaining momentum with each fight.

DAZN News has it a 3-0 edge in the champ’s favor and it is going to take a star boxing performance from Goodman to refute that.

Can he do it? Yes, but it will entail him boxing it into fruition against a relentless Ball.

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