World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Nick Ball retained his world title after defeating Sam Goodman at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
"The judges scored the fight 117-111, 118-110 and 115-113 for Nick Ball in a contest that was tighter than the two judges expected," the WBA reported on its website in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Ball set the tone in the opening round with a sharp right hook, but Goodman responded with slick lateral movement and a solid jab that gave him the chance to steal a few rounds in the middle.
In the fifth round, Ball landed a hard right hand that rocked the Australian, and from then on, the champion began to press with sharper combinations and relentless pressure.
In the following rounds, Ball's speed became the difference. A right uppercut in the ninth set the momentum, and he dominated the tenth and eleventh with powerful punches.
Goodman, though slowed, showed his toughness, hanging on and trading strikes in the final round to close out the fight with a stunning finish.
