BUILT FOR BATTLE
be exposed once the opposition is good enough to exploit them. Ball didn’t take time to acclimatize to world level. He knew he belonged straight away. “Honest opinion? Probably before I even got in the ring with them. Obviously you don’t know until you do that, so when [I did it, I knew for sure],” he said. “You’ve got to believe in yourself, always, and know that you belong at that level before you actually get there, and then work hard to get there. Then you’ve got to actually get in and do it to prove to people and prove to yourself. “So I’ve done it in the style that I’ve done it, comfortably, and then obviously went on and fought other world champions. “Any surprises? No. Every fight’s different, so just focus on who I’m fighting and don’t look ahead or anything like that. Just deal with what I’ve got to deal with and come out on top.” B all is preparing to make the second defense of his WBA title against Ireland’s T.J. Doheny. The fight will take place at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on March 15. At the launch press conference, the fiery Irishman voiced his displeasure at a throwaway comment Ball made about him having quit during his seventh-round stoppage loss to undisputed Ring Magazine 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue last September. “Some fighters have to do that to get themselves up for it, don’t they? Doesn’t matter really, does it?” said Ball. A shrug of the shoulders and a wrinkle of the nose do more to explain his feelings on the matter than any number of words could. Inoue seems certain to make the move to 126 pounds later this year. Ball would already be in prime position to welcome the Japanese superstar to the
in there with him and show him who is a monster.” Stevenson obviously wants Ball to secure his financial future, but he also wants him to leave a permanent mark on the sport. He knows that taking on fighters like Inoue will see Ball accomplish both goals simultaneously. “What a great matchup that’ll be,” Stevenson said. “A lot of people have, quite rightly, rated Inoue highly, but most of the people he’s fought, knocked out and done well with, they’ve stood off and they’ve given respect – probably too much respect – and they’ve been knocked out themselves. Nick’s never going to do that. “Nick’s got the best chance of smashing that kid out of any of the modern fighters around those weights. He does that, and he’s right up on the pound-for-pound lists. It’s serious. [Inoue would] be something we’re definitely looking at for this year. “We’ve got something special with Nick. He’s a special sort of generational talent. He’s exploded onto the scene, and what he’s doing is great, next-level stuff. He’s a proper world champion and done it the right way. “That mindset he’s got of taking on challenges, he’s the man at the minute. “Let them fear him. Let them worry about him. He brings so much more skill, ability and intelligence than people realize to the sport and to the game. Let them wake up worrying about him.” Listening to Stevenson’s praise brings the hint of a smile to Ball’s face, but there is absolutely no sense from either of them that they have accomplished their mission. One day, Ball will look back and allow himself to be proud of what he has achieved. That day is still some way off. “Probably when it’s over,” he said. “For now, just keep going, because I know how hard I’ve worked and how hard everyone around me has worked – so I’m going to work just as hard to keep it. Keep the top spot and never go back down to the bottom. Stay focused and keep working hard. That’s the main thing.”
THE ROAD AHEAD
Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren has expertly guided Ball to the top of the featherweight division. Warren kept Ball busy, matched him sensibly and positioned him for a mandatory shot at WBC beltholder Rey Vargas. Ball’s performances have justified the support. Matching Ball against respected world-level fighters like Ronny Rios and T.J. Doheny in his home city of Liverpool has allowed Ball to increase his fanbase and accrue invaluable experience. Assuming Ball gets past Doheny on March 15, Warren will happily turn him loose against the world’s elite. The Ring: “Nick is a no-nonsense fighter who prefers to let his fighting speak for him. What were your first impressions of him?” Frank Warren: “First time I met him, he was very quiet. He was very nice, not shy. He wasn’t brash, but he was quite confident. His manager, Paul Stevenson, is a good bloke, and they’re quite a close-knit bunch. I liked it. There was obviously a lot of respect between all of them. “We got on OK and he’s just been a joy to work with. Even with how it’s all panned out now, he’s still the same boy. “It’s a good combination. They’ve got a great camaraderie between all the fighters together as well. They all go and support each other. They’re really a nice
bunch, and I really love working with them.”
The Ring: “Nick has a unique style. As well as being difficult for his opponents to solve, his aggressiveness also makes him exciting to watch. What makes him so good?” FW: “He’s got an engine on him which is unbelievable. You wouldn’t want him on you. He’s relentless once that bell goes. He’d get a great sponsorship out of Duracell batteries. “He’s relentless. He wears you down. But people don’t realize that he’s a good boxer as well. He slips and slides and he’s got a great eye. “I love him, I really do. He’s a pleasure to watch and he should really be a unified champion at the moment.” The Ring: “Nick and his trainer, Paul Stevenson, are both keen on welcoming pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue to the featherweight division. What are your thoughts on the fight?” FW: “I’ll tell you something: I like the fight. The fact that Inoue would be coming up, I think that’ll even it all up. Yeah, I love the fight. “Some people think, ‘Oh, I’ve got a payday here.’ That’s a bad attitude. I’ve seen that with a lot of guys in a lot of fights. ‘I’ll just get the money, go there, and that’s what it is’ instead of thinking, ‘I’m going to go and give everything I’ve got.’”
featherweight division, but if he can better Inoue’s win over Doheny, he will be difficult to avoid. Ball wants the fight and – if and when it is made – it is one he will expect to win. He certainly won’t treat it as a no-lose shot to nothing, secure in the knowledge that a large deposit will hit his bank account in the days after the fight. “No, that’s all a bonus,” he said. “You’ve got to get in there and do the job, haven’t you? I think they probably
Ball produced a career-best performance to dethrone Raymond Ford.
show him too much respect, and the people that have hurt him have probably thought, ‘Whoa, I’ve hurt him there,’ and they’re shocked at themselves that they’ve hurt him. “You’re not getting no bigger than that, are you? He’s the fighter that everyone’s speaking about and calling him ‘The Monster,’ so it’d be good to get
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