During Saturday’s highly anticipated WBA world featherweight title bout, British champion Nick Ball was caught on camera delivering a kick to TJ Doheny at the conclusion of the first round.
The controversial incident occurred after Doheny held onto Ball “a little bit too long,” according to observers at ringside. The illegal maneuver sent the Irish boxer to the ground in pain, setting a tense tone for the remainder of the match.
The drama had started even before the opening bell, with Doheny missing weight on his first attempt and requiring an additional hour to meet the requirements. During the face-to-face ceremony, the 38-year-old veteran had boldly declared to the 28-year-old champion, “You’re not ready.”
However, Ball proved otherwise. The Liverpool-born champion successfully defended his title after Doheny’s corner ended the contest in the tenth round, with the Irish boxer’s right eye nearly swollen shut. Ball wasn’t without further controversy, though, as he was penalized one point in the ninth round for punching on the break.
Ball, who claimed his world title via a split decision against Raymond Ford, has now extended his undefeated record to 22 wins, including 13 knockouts, with one draw against Rey Vargas since March 2024.
“In there, it’s going to be tricky,” Ball reflected after his title defense. “It’s a world title fight in my own city. Sometimes I can rush in. The main thing is taking my time and it paid off.”
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, he added, “They want to see all the action. Obviously, I can box and go all action. I felt him getting tired with the pace I was setting.”
The champion’s next challenger remains uncertain, with several potential contenders in the mix. WBO champion Rafael Espinoza is scheduled to face Edward Vazquez, while Angelo Leo prepares to defend his IBF belt against Tomoki Kameda. Stephen Fulton, who secured the WBC title in February, has yet to announce his next opponent.
When questioned about his future plans, Ball deferred to his management: “I don’t know. It’s not up to me, it’s up to Frank [Warren], he’s the best promoter in the world. Anyone.”
