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Ball Targets Inoue After Stopping Doheny

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Mar 16, 2025 9:34 AM ET

Nick Ball retained his WBA Featherweight Title with a stoppage win against TJ Doheny.

Ball was tested with Doheny using his experience to push the champ. The first round produced little action, although both fighters showed their mean streak. Doheny got Ball into a headlock before the champion responded with a knee to the back of the leg. Ball may have considered himself lucky not to get a disqualification.

Doheny continued to rattle Ball in the second with his style before the latter found his groove in the third. The featherweight champion sat down on his punches, landing a left hook upstairs to end the round. Doheny responded in the fourth, landing a combination from the southpaw stance. However, Ball landed big shots to the head and body in the sixth, as the momentum was now in his favor.

However, there was still more twists in this fight. Ball had a point deducted in the ninth after wrestling his man to the floor. But it merely delayed the inevitable. Ball backed up Doheny in the tenth, landing power shots at will. Once the round was over, Doheny’s corner threw in the towel to gave Ball the win. Ball’s aim is now to target a fight with Naoya Inoue, who is expected to move up to featherweight later down the line.

Post-Fight

“In there, it’s going to be tricky. 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. They [the crowd] 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. 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,” Ball

“If [Inoue] that happens, it’ll be towards the end go the year or the start of next year. That’s the plan. “Our job is to keep him busy and keep coming back here. Great undercard as well with fantastic fighters. I’ve got to take my hat off to TJ. Nick Ball is the best featherweight in the world,” Frank Warren

“Doheny was tough! Very tough! But Ball was too good and too relentless. With his style & the conditioning he has to go with it, I think he’s a real problem in the division, hope he gets the other champions in the ring because you’re going to have to be some fighter to beat him,” Dave Coldwell