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Nick Ball says he’ll be seeking to make a “statement” along with his title protection of his WBA featherweight belt in opposition to #6-ranked TJ Doheny of their most important occasion combat this Saturday, March fifteenth on the M&S Financial institution Enviornment in Liverpool, England.
Followers don’t perceive why Ball, 28, is defending in opposition to the 38-year-old Doheny. Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round knockout loss to undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue on September third final yr.
Pathetic Alternative
Furthermore, the Irish native Doheny is making his debut at 126, which makes it look much more bizarre. It could be a little bit extra sporting if Ball at the very least fought somebody who has been preventing at featherweight, and coming off a win. Isn’t that the way it’s purported to work?
These killers are ranked above Doheny within the WBA’s featherweight rankings:
– Bruce Carrington– Otabek Kholmatov– Brandon Figueroa– Mirco Cuello
Utilizing Doheny because the opponent is sensible on one degree to promote tickets to informal boxing followers who acknowledge his identify. Nevertheless, it’s not good worth for followers as a result of he’s clearly washed up and doesn’t belong within the ring with a champion like Nick Ball. Additionally, you’re purported to earn world title photographs, not be given them off of the again of a knockout loss. It defeats the entire goal if fighters can combat for world titles after they get blown out.
TJ Doheny was a superb fighter years in the past, however he’s been on the slide since 2019 when he went by means of a nasty patch the place he went 1-3. His profession hasn’t rebounded since, as all of his victories have come in opposition to scrubs.
Ball (21-0-1, 12 KOs) is making his second protection of his WBA 126-lb belt that he received final yr in opposition to Raymond Ford.
Full DAZN Card for Saturday
Nick Ball vs. TJ DohenyAndrew Cain vs. Charlie EdwardsJadier Herrera vs. Jose Macias EnriquezBrad Strand vs. Ionut BalutaJack Turner vs. Ryan FarragJack Energy vs. Jose AguirreStephen Clarke vs. Dmitri ProtkunasJoe Bourne vs. Cristian UwakaWilliam Birchall vs. Engel Gomez
TJ Doheny: “I’m looking forward to showcasing my skills in front of a passionate Liverpool crowd on the weekend,” stated Doheny throughout at the moment’s press convention forward of his combat in opposition to WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball this Saturday evening. “He’s a good little fighter. He’s not a world champion for nothing.”
Nick Ball: “I don’t care what he’s done, who he’s been in with and what he’s done in his last fight. It’s all irrelevant. It’s all in the past. He’s fighting me on Saturday night. I’m just focused on that, really,” stated Nick Ball, speaking in regards to the 38-year-old Doheny, who’s coming off a knockout loss to Naoya Inoue.
“I don’t really know. It doesn’t really matter to me,” stated Ball when requested if Doheny actually believes he can win. I’m centered on me and I consider in me. That’s on Saturday evening, doing what I do greatest. I’m all the time seeking to do a greater job, and all the time seeking to put a press release efficiency on, particularly in Liverpool with everybody that’s come out and purchased tickets to help all of the fighters. That’s what they need to put a present on for them,” stated Ball when requested if he’s seeking to do a greater job in opposition to Doheny than Naoya Inoue did in his seventh spherical TKO win final September.
