Nick Ball vs Nathaniel Collins – Someone's '0' has got to go!
Photo credit Queensberry Promotions
Both boxers are undefeated titleholders, 25-years-old, and highly ranked in the WBC
On July 16 at London's Copper Box Arena, Frank Warren presents a British title double header featuring both Lennox Clarke and Nick Ball, live on BT Sport, as well as 'Young boxer of the Year' Hamzah Sheeraz.
Liverpool's newest boxing star Nick Ball (15-0, 8 KOs) is bidding to add the British and Commonwealth featherweight belts to the WBC Silver title he won defeating Isaac Lowe at Wembley Stadium by taking on the unbeaten Scottish talent Nathaniel Collins (11-0, 5 KOs).
Trained by Paul Stevenson at the talent-packed Everton Red Triangle gym in Liverpool, 25-year-old Ball announced himself on the biggest stage of the year with a blistering performance against vaster experienced Isaac Lowe on the Fury-Whyte Wembley mega-show just last month. The 5ft 5in featherweight decked Lowe early in the fight, bloodied his foe badly with a cut over the left eye, then finished him in brutal fashion in round six. With the 15th win of his career, he picked up his first ever professional title and a 15th world ranking in the WBC.
His 16th opponent is a fellow unbeaten titleholder, so will make for an intruiging contest. 'The Nightmare' is also 25 and has held the Commonwealth strap since July 2021. The Scottish southpaw has defended his honours twice within that time to undefeated opponents – 9-0 Jacob Robinson in his last fight in May, and 11-0 South African in his first defence last November. Collins is also highly-ranked in the World Boxing Council's ratings at #22, a position he earned from prevailing in three Commonwealth championship contests.
Both boxers have seen four of their previous six bouts finish early, so this pick'em fight could potentially steal the show.
"Nick Ball is now a big noise in the featherweight division and he gets to fight for the British and Commonwealth titles against the highly-rated Nathaniel Collins, who has been attracting rave reviews for his recent performances," Promoter Frank Warren said. "If Nick can add these two belts to his WBC Silver title, he will not be far away from world title contention."
Sheeraz (15-0, 11 KOs) continues his quest at middleweight with a defence of his WBC International Silver title – won last time out via defeat of Jez Smith – against the Argentinean Francisco Emmanuel Torres (17-3-1, 5 KOs) over 10 rounds.
Birmingham's Lennox Clarke (20-1-1, 8 KOs) makes a first defence of his British and Commonwealth middleweight titles against another big banger in Oldham's Mark Heffron (27-2-1, 21 KOs) in what is certain to be a mighty collision, with the IBF Intercontinental championship belt also on the line.
The exceptional young bantamweight star Dennis McCann (12-0, 6 KOs) makes the jump up to featherweight in a fight over 10 rounds for the vacant WBC International Silver title against James Beech jr (14-2, 2 KOs), a two-time British title challenger at super bantamweight.
Southampton snapper Ryan 'The Piranha' Garner (11-0, 6 KOs) is back in an eight-round fight against the Mexican Christian Lopez Torres (13-18-2, 11 KOs) ahead of a likely title challenge next time out, with new Queensberry recruit Pierce O'Leary (9-0, 5 KOs) from Dublin fighting over eight at super lightweight.
The stacked card also features young light heavyweight star Karol Itauma (7-0, 5 KOs) in his eighth professional assignment over six rounds, with rising super featherweight Masood Abdulah (4-0, 4 KOs) appearing over the same distance.
Super bantamweight Umar Khan (3-0) and super lightweight Sonny Liston Ali (3-0) will compete in six-round contests, with welterweights Khalid Ali (2-0, 1 KO) and Sean Noakes (1-0) appearing in four-rounders.
"This really is going to be an explosive night of boxing at the Copper Box," continued Frank Warren. "The Boxing Writers' Young Boxer of the Year Hamzah Sheeraz rightly gets to top the bill in his second fight at middleweight against an in-form Francisco Torres, who is unbeaten in his last 10 and fought at a good level. It is an ideal international test for Hamzah in a defence of his title.
"It doesn't get much better than the two British title fights we are delivering. Lennox Clarke v Mark Heffron has got war written all over it and neither man is fond of taking a backward step and both carry huge power.
"Dennis McCann is another now taking significant steps forward and 'The Menace' is ready to jump up to featherweight and take on a real challenge in James Beech jr for the WBC International Silver belt.
"Ryan Garner is also on the cusp of fighting for titles and he will be looking to impress and show that he will be our super featherweight force, while I am also delighted to welcome another young fighter who means business in the formidable super lightweight Pierce O'Leary."
Tickets for the show at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 16 July are priced from £55 and go on sale at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday, 31 May) from SeeTickets.com.
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