Nick Ball targets super fight against Naoya Inoue following victory over TJ Doheny

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball is lining up a super fight against pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue after overcoming former IBO Super-bantamweight champion TJ Doheny in Liverpool.

Nick Ball, 22-0-1 (13 KOs), retained his WBA featherweight world title with a win over TJ Doheny, 26-6 (20 KOs) at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.

The Irishman’s corner pulled him out of the contest after the 10th round giving Ball his 22nd career victory and a second successful title defence.

In recent months Ball has been linked with a fight against Inoue, 29-0 (26 KOs), who returns to the ring on 4th May in Las Vegas when the ‘Monster’ defends his Undisputed super bantamweight crown against Ramon Cardenas, 26-1 (14 KOs).

Victory for Inoue could lead to another two fights this year including one back home in Japan against WBA mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev, 13-1 (10 KOs), before his first collaboration with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season in December.

Inoue has made no secret of the fact he plans to leave behind the 122lb weight division to climb another four pounds to featherweight.

Liverpool’s Ball might be the man to welcome him to his fifth weight division having began at light flyweight (108lbs) over 12 years ago.

Frampton faith in Ball

Carl Frampton, who now works as an analyst for TNT Sports, was in Liverpool to watch Ball beat Doheny.

The Northern Irishman, who won world titles at super bantamweight and featherweight, told Boxing News who he thinks would win if the two men meet in the future.

“I genuinely think he (Ball) has a very good chance of beating him,” Frampton said.

“Inoue would obviously be coming up to another weight division and that’s a problem with guys that are multi-weight – there’s a ceiling for you. I don’t think Inoue could go much further than feather, maybe super featherweight possibly.

“Styles make fights and it’s bit of a cliché and an old saying but Nick Ball’s style gives Inoue nightmares. I genuinely believe that and I think he could win that fight.”

Understandably Inoue would likely start as the favourite to beat Ball but that’s not how ‘The Jackal’ sees it.

“People are gonna laugh at me but I would fancy him to beat Inoue. He would be a favourite for me anyway. Bookies maybe say different.”

Ball belief as winning run continues

Ball’s win over Doheny put an end to their brief rivalry which threatened to boil over during fight week when the two faced off for the cameras.

The champion dabbled in a spot of MMA, however, at the end of the opening round of their bout at the M&S Bank Arena after being held in a prolonged headlock from Doheny as referee Michael Alexander tried to separate them.

Ball retaliated with a kick to the leg and was fortunate not to receive a punishment for his actions.

“It’s probably stupid by myself and I’ve learned from it,” Ball told Boxing News on Saturday night.

“After the bell he kept me in a headlock. He done me dirty so I got one back on him. It is what it is.”

Ball wouldn’t be drawn on speculation regarding a fight between himself and Inoue but confidently predicted the outcome if it happens.

“The ‘Wrecking’ Ball comes out on top as always.”

Shaun Brown

• Queensberry
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