Ball v Doheny: Nick Ball kicks TJ Doheny on way to retaining world title

At the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, featherweight world champion Nick Ball continued his strong performance. The experienced TJ Doheny was stopped by his team before the start of the 11th round, with Ball successfully defending his WBA title.

The fight was full of twists and turns. In the first round, Ball kicked his opponent after a clinch. In the ninth round, he was deducted a point for pushing his opponent to the ground twice. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old Ball defended his WBA title with clear and powerful punches.

The 38-year-old Irish fighter Doheny was hit hard several times in the ninth and tenth rounds, and his team ultimately chose to end the fight. Although Doheny performed well in the early stages of the fight, he gradually felt overwhelmed in the contest against his younger opponent. In the second half of the fight, Doheny's right eye was swollen and he could barely see, eventually becoming a stationary target, which led to the stoppage.

Ball improved his record to 22 wins and 1 draw. It is worth noting that his act of kicking his opponent during the fight could have led to his disqualification, or at least a point deduction. In the post-match interview, Ball was not asked about the kicking incident. He said: "Things get complicated in the fight. It's a world title fight in my hometown. Sometimes I get impulsive, but the most important thing is to slow down, and that ultimately paid off."

Doheny, whose 13-year professional career has taken him around the world, suffered his 6th loss, bringing his total record to 32 fights. Ball made his debut in a Liverpool nightclub in 2017, and this fight entered the arena to the deafening cheers of Liverpool fans, with the 11,000-capacity arena about one-third full. Doheny smiled amidst the boos. The former super bantamweight world champion is no stranger to hostile environments, having competed in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

The fight started explosively, with Doheny locking Ball's neck and refusing to let go. Frustrated, Ball kicked Doheny's leg, causing him to fall to the ground. The referee only gave Ball a verbal warning, and Ball put the incident behind him. The 5-foot-2-inch champion, known for his forward-pressing style, landed a stinging left hook to the body in the third round and a right hand to the head. The crafty southpaw Doheny posed a real threat with his power, with 20 of his 26 wins coming inside the distance.

But Ball, who has participated in four world title fights in the past year, began to show his sharpness and speed. In the sixth round, after being hit by a straight right, the fighter from Portlaoise returned to his corner gasping for air. In the ninth round, Ball was deducted a point for throwing Doheny to the ground, after having been warned for the same foul earlier. However, the ending was already destined.

After several sustained attacks, including left and right hooks and three uppercuts in the tenth round, the referee was ready to stop the fight, regardless of whether Doheny's team instructed him to do so. Ball, along with heavyweight boxer Daniel Dubois, remains one of only two current male world champions from the UK. Despite Ball's undeniable talent and engaging style, he is still not a household name for the average boxing fan.

Winning more featherweight belts or finding a credible opponent could raise his profile. When asked who he wanted to fight next, Ball said: "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 will do."

A fight with Japan's Naoya Inoue would certainly attract a mainstream audience. "Monster" Naoya Inoue, with 26 knockouts in 29 wins, is a true global superstar. Inoue is expected to successfully defend his super bantamweight title against Ramon Cardenas in May and has already hinted at moving up to featherweight. Warren's desire for Ball to headline a fight at Liverpool or Everton Football Club's stadium may tempt Inoue to travel to the North West of England.