Featherweight sensation Nick Ball ends the year ranked 11th in the world
Undefeated WBC Silver featherweight champion Nick Ball (17-0, 10KOs) has been nominated for Prospect of the Year Award 2022 by the World Boxing Council.
Ball is joined by five other talented nominees, which includes Muhammad Ali’s grandson.
The nomination comes after an outstanding year that saw the Merseyside mauler win all three fights by knockout.
On hearing the news, Nick said, “I'm proud in little ways, but I'm not looking back, I'm looking forward. there's more work to be done and I know where I'm going so that's what I'm focused on.”
To kickstart the year, the 25-year-old set Wembley Stadium alight on St. George’s Day on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s world title defence to Dillian Whyte in April, in front of 94,000 fans.
Ball tore through bookies favourite Isaac Lowe – close friend of Fury’s, who actually accompanied him on his ringwalk – in six bloodied, brutal rounds. The exciting, all-action affair was unanimously the fight of the night and the young Liverpudlian stole the show to announce himself onto the world stage with such an emphatic, exciting win.
With that incredible victory, Ball claimed the vacant WBC Silver featherweight title and crash-landed into the top 40 in the world.
The new champion then defended his shiny new green and gold belt to Namibia’s Nathanael Kakololo in July, who he stopped in the 12th and final round with just 93 seconds of the contest remaining.
The African champion had only lost three times before, but had never been stopped, so it was another big statement made by ‘The Wrecking Ball’.
Kakololo was teak-tough and took a lot of big shots, wobbling under the power several times, but was remarkably still standing by the final round. After 34 minutes of pure punishment, Kakololo turned his back midway through the final round, prompting referee John Latham to jump in and save the visitor from further damage.
Signed to Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, Ball was slightly surprised with just how tough his 16th professional opponent was, remarking afterwards, “He was awkward, tall and rangy, tough; he had some chin on him, to be fair! The more punishment I hit him with, the better. I was having fun in there!
“It was good to finally do them [rounds] and shut a lot of people up saying that I can’t do 12 rounds; I can do 12 rounds in my sleep! I didn’t even sit down between rounds to make a point. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I can do 15 if you want.”
Ball ended the year as it began – with another knockout performance. Back down south, he headlined the iconic boxing venue, York Hall in Bethnal Green, in November. The 5ft 5in powerhouse blasted through Jesus Ramirez Rubio within just 108 seconds! The Mexican was meant to represent a real test for Ball, many labelling him as a risky opponent, but the top prospect, defending his title for a second time, knocked him down three times to win his third fight of the year and 17th of his professional career.
Nick ended his breakout year ranked No.11 in the WBC World rankings. The talent-packed featherweight division is topped by two-weight champ Rey Vargas, who has the WBC World featherweight belt.
At British level, Ball is ranked fifth with boxing rankings website, BoxRec. All four fighters ahead of him are reigning or former world champions, such as WBA champ Leigh Wood.
Ball trains at the Everton Red Triangle gym with fellow WBC titleholder Andrew Cain, undefeated prospect Bradley Strand and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Peter McGrail under the watchful eye of head coach Paul Stevenson.
“The gym’s flying now,” Ball enthused. “And it’s going to continue to keep getting that [exposure] if we just continue to keep doing what we’re doing, listening to Paul [Stevenson] and Ant [Humphreys], doing the right things and let the fights do our talking and everything else will follow.”
Head coach Paul Stevenson added, “Nick’s had an outstanding 2022 and really announced himself as one of the most exciting prospects in world boxing. He’s had three massive stoppage wins, is lighting these big shows up, and he’s just getting better and better!
“The world featherweight title is our goal next year.”
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