Unbeaten Nick Ball is ranked #10 in BoxRec super-featherweight table
Undefeated prospect Nick Ball (13-0, 6KOs) feels encouraged to end a tumultuous year in the top 10 of the British super-featherweight division on BoxRec.
Signed to Frank Warren and trained by Paul Stevenson at the Everton Red Triangle gym in Liverpool, Ball managed to fight twice in 2020 – once shortly before the first lockdown in March, then on a BT Sport show in July.
Ball stopped his sixth opponent, Ivan Godor, on February 28 at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool on a Black Flash Promotions event; then, he sizzled on his BT Sport debut when he widely outpointed a fellow undefeated prospect on July 31.
The 23-year-old from Liverpool reflected, “It has been a bad year, but I don’t think about that, I just try to be positive. I boxed twice and got out on tele, whereas most haven’t had a chance to get out at all. I am still in the gym training, keeping busy, working on things, so you just can’t feel sorry for yourself.”
As a result of his brace of wins in 2020, Ball is now ranked in the top 10 of the British 130lbs category, just under Jeff Ofori; Alex Dilmaghani; Archie Sharp; Zelfa Barrett; Sam Bowen; Anthony Cacace; Martin J Ward; Joe Cordina; and Carl Frampton.
However, Nick weighed in at 129lbs in his last fight against 6-0 unbeaten Londoner Jerome Campbell, who was given a standing count in the penultimate seventh round, and has the 126lbs featherweight division in his sights first.
“I want to do featherweight, but I can do both divisions. I feel strong at super-featherweight, I can hold my own, but I feel like I’m a real problem for everyone at featherweight.”
When referencing ‘everyone’, Nick clarifies he isn’t singling anyone out in particular, “I’m not looking at any one person, not really, I can look around at others above me but might never fight them, so I always just focus on myself and being on the best version of me. I don’t worry about anyone else; they should be worried about me, because I’m the one coming up.
“If I am looking at anyone, then it’ll be whoever is number one, because that’s the spot I’m after.”
It was then revealed to the rising prospect that the English title was currently vacant at both feather and super-featherweight, to which he reacted, “I hadn’t seen that, but that’s good news. The English title is definitely one I’d like to get my hands on, but I feel like I’m already past that.”
At super-featherweight, Anthony Cacace is the reigning British champion, with Liam Dillon vs Dennis Wahome due to contest the vacant English championship at a date to be arranged by promoter Steve Goodwin in 2021. However, Danny Carr and Dean Dodge are meeting in an English title eliminator in February, so there is already a queue for that crown.
At featherweight, ruling English champ Reece Mould is about to challenge Leigh Wood for the vacant British crown, so that title will shortly become available.
Despite the obvious interest, Ball asserted that he wouldn’t be keeping an eye on any of the aforementioned competition, stating his reasons as, “I don’t watch boxing that much, unless it’s someone I like, so I won’t watch any of those fights, but I have watched some big boxing fights this year and I’ve been impressed with Gervonta Davies and Canelo.
“Davies’ win over Leo Santa Cruz was the knockout of the year, definitely. Obviously, it would have been great if Callum Smith had beat Canelo; I would’ve been made up for him, especially as he’s from Liverpool, but I knew Canelo would walk through him.”
Back to the British scene, Ball shared his New Year’s resolutions, “I’m hoping for a title fight in 2021, definitely. I think now, at 13-0, I’ve got to be having a big fight, but I feel like I’m going to be doing that next year as well, so I’m staying ready for that to happen.
“I’ve been getting in the gym on my own with my trainer Paul Stevenson, although I’m not even waiting for a call, I’m just doing my job.”
Trainer Paul Stevenson added, “Nick is poised now, ready for titles. He’s the most dangerous and exciting featherweight prospect out there at the minute, so this year will be about getting him exposure and some big fights.”
About Nick Ball
Nick Ball is a former Junior ABA champion, who won 23 from 25 amateur fights.
Ball trains alongside fellow Queensbury Promotions teammates Andrew Cain (6-0, 6KOs) and Brad Strand (4-0, 1KO) at the century-old Everton Red Triangle Gym in Liverpool with head coach, Paul Stevenson.
All three signed contracts with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren in February and debuted together on the undercard of Lyndon Arthur’s Commonwealth light-heavyweight title defence to Dec Spelman on July 31 at the BT Sport Studios in London.
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