NICK BALL will not be fighting Luis Nery in the next defence of his WBA featherweight title.
Ball’s promoter Frank Warren told Boxing News that the fight is “not happening” despite online speculation suggesting the fight will take place in August.
According to Franco Zorsini the two men were to face one another as part of the August 16 undercard in Saudi Arabia headlined by the 145lb catchweight clash between Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney. As reported by The Ring that fight now looks like it will no longer take place.
ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez reaffirmed the news on social media platform X with plans still afoot for the fight to take place. Warren’s response leaves fans of Ball, 22-0-1 (13 KOs), wondering when they will see him next.
Last month the Queensberry Promotions promoter revealed to BNthat a “big fight” would be announced for the Liverpudlian. All eyes are on Naoya Inoue’s career, too, with Warren calling for his man to get a shot at ‘The Monster’.
Warren said: “I like Nick in the fight [against Inoue]. Inoue, I’m a massive, massive fan. Guys get caught [in fights]. It’s when they get up and win, that’s fighters who can take a punch when you can get off the floor and come back. He’s a quality, quality fighter.”
Warren added that preliminary discussions with Inoue’s team had taken place. “They’re up for it. As I say, they gotta win their respective fights, come through those, and I’m sure we’ll get it done.”
Ball is riding the crest of a wave as one of British boxing’s leading stars. The unbeaten 28-year-old put behind him the disappointment of his draw against Rey Vargas in March 2024 to overcome Raymond Ford in his second world title attempt three months later. Dominant defences against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny in Liverpool showcased the Scouser’s best attributes but fans will hope to see him in tougher challenges in the coming months.
