Liverpool’s own Nick Ball is gearing up to defend his WBA featherweight title against TJ Doheny this Saturday, March 15th, at the M&S Bank Arena. Ball has made it clear he wants to outperform Naoya Inoue, who previously stopped Doheny in seven rounds. He’s also brushing off fan criticism for picking the 38-year-old Irishman over more notable contenders like Bruce Carrington or Brandon Figueroa, insisting this is a savvy business decision that still promises plenty of action for the UK crowd.
Watch Nick Ball's interview video: Watch
Doheny’s last outing ended in controversy when he had to pull out due to a back injury, earning him the “quitter” label from some fans. He’s now looking to prove he can still hang with the elites, vowing to show Ball exactly who the real quitter is. That doesn’t phase the Liverpudlian champ at all; Ball says Doheny would “have to kill me” to make him quit, drawing a line in the sand for a fight that could get intense fast.
Many onlookers are curious whether Doheny’s back issues might resurface on fight night. If they do, it could be another short evening in the ring. But if he’s healthy and motivated, the more aggressive approach he’s threatening might actually make this clash far more explosive than critics anticipate.
In the end, Ball’s determined to put on a show for his hometown fans. He’s openly inviting Doheny to try for a knockout, reminding everyone that risky offense can leave a fighter wide open to a counter.
Get ready for this fight here.
Image Credit: DAZN