Express & Star

Walsall boxer Rachel Ball facing late opponent change for world title clash

Walsall boxer Rachel Ball has had a late change of opponent for her world title bout next week.

Published
Last updated

The three-time kickboxing world champion was set to face Ebanie Bridges for the vacant WBA bantamweight title on November 14 – before the Australian withdrew on Tuesday with an arm injury.

Now, Ball will face IBF super-flyweight world champion Jorgelina Guanini, who is moving up a weight class to fight for the belt.

Ball, who is coming off a big win over Shannon Courtenay, now has her eyes set on the prize.

“I have always put 100 per cent into my training but this has just given me more of an incentive,” Ball said.

“We want to make a statement and I’d love to get a stoppage. I learnt a lot from the Courtenay fight, but I have a job to do and I want to do it well. I try not to let the pressure get to me, but I know in the back of my mind how much it would mean to the BCB stable for me to be their first world champion.

"They’re all behind me and to get the win would mean so much to me.”