Hard-charging WBA featherweight Nick Ball will put his title on the line against Australia's Sam Goodman on Aug. 16.

The two will meet at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the undercard of Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte.

DAZN Pay-Per-View will stream the Esports World Cup Fight Week show (£15.99 in the UK; $49.99 in the United States).

Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) broke out in 2022 and followed that into 2023 with a series of increasingly impressive performances. The momentum saw him earn a shot at then-WBC featherweight titlist Rey Vargas, and despite a difficult start he grew into the fight and twice dropped the Mexican to earn a draw.

Unable to run it back, Ball instead edged newly minted WBA ruler Raymond Ford to become world champion. He has since stopped veteran duo Ronnie Rios (TKO 10) and TJ Doheny (RTD 10).

Meanwhile, Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs), made his name at junior featherweight, notably beating Doheny (UD 10), an IBF eliminator against Ra'eese Aleem (SD 12) and Miguel Flores (UD 12).

However, he had to wait to face Ring/undisputed 122-pound titlist Naoya Inoue. He was cut in sparring and the fight postponed only for it to be scrapped when another cut derailed the rescheduled date.

After 10 months off, Goodman returned with a workmanlike performance against Cesar Vaca (UD 10).

Here are the thoughts from fellow fighters, former champions, trainers and matchmakers:

BRUCE CARRINGTON (FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDER): "Nick Ball TKO Sam Goodman in the late rounds. I know one featherweight, he can't beat."

NATHANIEL COLLINS (FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDER): "I think Nick Ball will be too strong and too busy for Goodman, who is only just coming up from junior featherweight. Ball's strength will make the difference. I am ready and waiting for when he is ready to face a fully fledged featherweight. Ball by TKO."

WAYNE MCCULLOUGH (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/TRAINER): "This should be an all-out toe-to-toe slugfest. Both fighters love trading shots at close range, so it'll be interesting to see if one decides to switch it up and create some distance. Goodman is effective with his body work — if he can stay inside and break Ball down early, he’s got a real shot at the win. That said, Ball's wild overhand rights and looping left hooks could catch Goodman midway through the fight and lead to a stoppage. I see Ball's power making the difference here."

MARK TIBBS (TRAINER): "Cracking match of styles, Ball the more stocky, thick set and stronger in my opinion against the taller, longer and a very good technician in Goodman. I think Goodman will box around Ball to win the early rounds. By mid-to-late, I think Ball's strength will come into play and force Goodman into holding his feet and this will be the winning factor for Ball. Ball late stoppage."

MARC RAMSAY (TRAINER): "This is going to be a great fight. To be able to stop a boxer as aggressive as Nick Ball you have to be able to hurt him and despite the advantage that Sam Goodman has on the technical level, he has not shown that he has such power. I expect a tough fight for both boxers, but I think Ball will win. I see a unanimous decision but still close for Nick Ball."

BILLY DIB (FORMER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION): "I like Sammy Goodman, he's a very, very technically sound boxer, he's got great lateral movement, he's got great distance, but I don't know how he's going to fair moving up to featherweight and facing a guy like Nick Ball. Nick Ball is not your typical top fighter, he's a wrecking machine, he's non-stop come forward, pressure fighter. I don't know if it's going to suit Sammy or be effective for Nick Ball. Usually, Sammy outboxes so easily they become snoozefest. You saw what he did to TJ Doheny and TJ goes on to have a couple of great wins. That's his strength. I don't know that he can do that with Nick Ball, he's very aggressive and brings a lot of pressure. I'd love to see Sammy win the fight, but I think especially overseas, it's hard, I think I'm going to have to pick Nick Ball. I'm going to say Ball stops him late."

LIAM DAVIES (FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDER): "I like the fight, it's a good one and I have Ball as the slight favorite. I believe Ball will get to him late but could be coming from behind as I expect Goodman to fight a clever fight early on. Either way, I'd love to have a shot at the winner now I'm at 126 pounds."

MIKE ALTAMURA (MANAGER): "This is a really interesting contest between two contrasting styles. Ball literally is a wrecking ball but has some finesse to his defensive craft and Goodman is known as a mover behind a steady counter game but is very underrated inside. I see a nip and tuck battle with the upset-minded Goodman building a lead and finding a way to hold on."

BRAD GOODMAN (MATCHMAKER): "I think Ball is a little too big and throws too many punches and wins a decision. Goodman is capable of having his moments, but the high work rate of Ball wins it."

RICH MAROTTA (COMMENTATOR): "The Ball-Goodman battle should be a firefight, but every bout with Ball is. You talk about relentless. His approach is crude but an irresistible force. On the other hand, Goodman possesses the skills to make it difficult for Nick. I just don't see how he can hold him off for the whole distance. He is what Angelo Dundee used to call a 1-2-3 fighter: jab, jab, right cross. That will be effective for a while but Ball will eventually track him down, wear him out and stop him in 10."

Final tally: Ball 9-1 Goodman