Mexican star Rey Vargas did not talk at the Grand Arrivals for the Knockout Chaos bill this Friday in Saudi Arabia, but his challenger for the WBC featherweight title Nick Ball did. The Liverpool man said he knew people expected him to entertain in his fights, as a popular crowd-pleaser. 

“People like to watch, it’s exciting and all the hard work’s paying off,” said Ball, who is unbeaten and has scored 11 stoppages in his 19 wins.

“It’s here now, there’s no turning back. This is what I’ve been working for my whole life.” 

Vargas is 36-1 (22 KOs).

Portsmouth southpaw Mark Chamberlain said he was prepared for the pressure that Welsh lightweight Gavin Gwynne will likely bring on fight night.

Chamberlain is 14-0 (10 KOs), Gwynne is 17-2-1 (5 KOs).

“It was around Christmas time where I had a phone call asking if I wanted to fight out in Saudi Arabia, and the first name put to me was Maxi Hughes, then something happened in the background and Gavin was next in line,” revealed Chamberlain. “I’ve had 14 fights now, and I’m up for the challenge.” 

Gwynne, the European champion who toiled against Italian veteran Emiliano Marsili last time out, said he was just getting on top of Marsili but that he had not felt 100 per cent going into the fight.

“Never in a million years,” he said, when asked if he had ever thought he would be on a big stage, like the Joshua-Ngannou bill. “This is what all boxers dream of, boxing on an event like this. It’s just amazing.”

Liverpool super welterweight Jack McGann, 9-0-1 (6 KOs), has been training and sparring in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as he prepared to face Louis Greene. 

“I’m under no illusion, it’s going to be the toughest test of my career, especially with the style that Louis Greene brings, but I’ve been sparring Mexicans who come forward and put the pressure on, so I’m fully prepared for Louis and his style,” said Greene.

Kent’s Louis Greene, 16-4 (10 KOs), said he was ready to go. “I look at every fight the same, I’m always in a hard fight,” he admitted. “I’ve fought a few unbeaten boys and I’ve had a few great years in boxing.”

LA-based Ukrainian heavyweight hope Andrii “Rampage” Novytskyi, 9-0 (8 KOs) after eight wins in 2023, was in confident mood ahead of his fight with Texan Juan Torres, from Cyprus, Texas, 11-5-1 (4 KOs). 

Torres talked up his chances, saying: “It’s exciting to see the big show, it’s a big card, but at the end of the day, I’m here to take care of business. The guy I’m fighting is 6ft 6in so I’ve got to get inside and bang him up. I’m not going to be able to touch his head so I’m going to try and tear that liver up and try to tear the ribs up… I really don’t give a crap who I fight. They offer the fight? I’m willing to take it.” 

Australian heavyweight prospect Justis Huni was enjoying the big occasion and said his plan was to hit and not get it as he stepped up his level of opposition.

“It’s all new to me, so I’m just taking it all in as I go,” said 8-0 (4 KOs) Huni. “It’s a big platform for me to be performing on this early in my career. I’m enjoying the experience; this is where I belong.”

His opponent, South African southpaw Kevin Lerena, feels his experience will be the difference, although he admitted Huni’s amateur background made it a more even fight on paper.

“It was a no-brainer to take this fight but I’m not coming here as a stepping stone, I’m coming here to win,” said Lerena, 30-2 (14 KOs).

“Most definitely,” he added, whether his experience could be the difference. “My opponent’s a young guy but he’s got a very good amateur pedigree and I haven’t had an amateur fight.”

Ziyad Almaayouf, 4-0 (1 KO), a Saudi Arabian super lightweight based in Los Angeles, was pleased to be boxing on such a significant show.

“It’s so great to be back,” said Almaayouf. “I feel this is the cherry on top, having a Saudi Arabian fighter on the card. I’ve been very happy with how I’ve handled things mentally… I trust the process and this is what coach Buddy McGirt tells me. Physically it’s a work in progress, the boxing is a work in progress, I grew up with no ring, no boxing equipment, no boxing in TV, so step by step, it’s going to come.” 

He fights Mexican Christian Lopez Flores, 14-35-2 (12 KOs).

Heavyweight Roman Fury, 3-0 (1 KO), who goes up against 2-0 (1 KO) Czech Martin Svarc, said: “I can’t wait for fight night. I’ve done all the hard work. Of course it’s pressure [having Fury as a surname], but we’re in a pressure sport and you’ve either got to ride it or fold.”