WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball moved a step closer to a potential superfight with Japan’s Naoya Inoue with a strong showing against Irishman TJ Doheny in Liverpool, England on Saturday night (15th).
Despite losing his rag by butt-kicking his opponent on trying to escape from a headlock by his challenger towards the end of the opening round, which our first impression was should have resulted in a disqualification or at least point deduction, Ball managed to avoid punishment and preserved his undefeated record.
Ball (now 22-0-1, 13 KOs) boxed well and deservedly forced referee Michael Alexander to call a halt to proceedings on compassion of Doheny’s corner at the end on the tenth round, after the Irishman was dominated and visibly bashed up. By the late rounds he was only looking to potentially ship further punishment, albeit brave throughout.
Early on, Doheny boxed well and with an awkward southpaw style managed to avoid most of ‘The Wrecking Ball’ s heavy onslaughts. It was an interesting fight with Doheny adopting the ‘spoiler’ role, but nevertheless using all his experience and guile to avoid an early defeat.
Ball’s frustration spilled over with the kicking incident as he just couldn’t dent his opponent, despite those early onslaughts. However, eventually he matched Inoue’s stoppage of Doheny last September, although it wasn’t as emphatic coming at end of the tenth. Inoue’s stoppage coming in the seventh.
Doheny provides a benchmark to rank a potential Inoue match should the latter inevitably step up from junior-featherweight to the full 9st/126lbs division. the Japanese has already won ‘world’ titles in five different weight categories, three as an undisputed champion, and will be looking to win his sixth.
‘The Monster’ Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) defends in Las Vegas on May 4 against American Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). He’s epected to be tested but come though successfully. A potential fight against Ball is mouthwatering and sure to be explosive.
Doheny (now 26-6, 20 KOs) fell to his sixth loss, the last two in bravely contesting ‘world’ titles. At 38 he’s given as much as he can in the ring at the elite level and can hold his head up high.
For Ball, at only 28, lots of options open up for him. Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions will be looking to maximise his profile and earning potential, whether Japan, Stateside or in Ball’s beloved home of Liverpool.
The Undisputed 