Ball vs. Rios: Big fight predictions from Anthony Crolla, Natasha Jonas and more

Former lightweight world champion Anthony Crolla: “I think Ball has the right to be the best active fighter in Britain at the moment. His draw against Rey Vargas should have been a win, and he beat a world-class fighter in Raymond Ford.”

“Ball is in motion and was delivered excellently. I think he’s a little too strong for Rios and I think he’ll get to him between rounds seven and nine.”

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke: “I don't know much about Rios, but I'm supporting the exciting Nick Ball. With the crest of the wave he's on, I'm a big fan of him.”

Welterweight champion Natasha Jonas: “I think Ball wins. You try to downplay that it's just another fight, but the reality is that you're in your hometown as a champion. All your friends and family will be there and you want to perform in front of them.” As much as you don't want to put pressure on yourself, there is pressure.

“But as long as he does what Nick Ball does, he will have no problems getting a great win and coming home. I don’t think Frank Warren would put him in a difficult situation where he could be overthrown.”

Former light middleweight world champion Hannah Rankin: “On paper, this is a difficult homecoming for Ball. Rios has a very good record and a knockout rate of 50%. However, he has only had one fight in the last two and a half years and has therefore not been very active, unlike Ball, who is currently fighting his third fight this year and is in full swing.

“So I go with ball based on points or a late stoppage. I think he will have a difficult task at the start, but his youth and recent activity will allow him to be strong and dominate in the later half of the fight.”