NICK Ball is still the WBA featherweight champion, forcing TJ Doheny’s corner to withdraw their man after the 10th round in Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. The veteran Irishman showed savviness and grit to reach the final portion of the fight, but the corner’s compassionate decision was correct.
The bout started off intriguingly. There was a moment of drama at the close of the first round as Ball appeared to kick Doheny during a moment of madness. The champion got away with it and kept increasing the pressure, especially to the body.
Ball’s frustration boiled over a little in the sixth as referee Michael Alexander threatened to take away a point. Doheny shipped some hard blows at the end of that session as the challenger grabbed for safety.
Doheny’s right eye was showing a bit of damage by the eighth. Ball’s chopping right hands clearly took a toll as the Portlaois southpaw slowed. Ball was finally deducted a point in round nine, as promised earlier by the referee, for throwing his opponent to the canvas. Doheny’s jaw was swelling and his eye closing.
Try as he might to survive and thrive, round 10 was Doheny’s last stand. The corner intervened soon after. Nick Ball improves to 22-0-1 (13 KOs) while TJ Doheny drops to 26-6 (20 KOs) and may now consider retirement. Frank Warren suggested the Naoya Inoue fight could be an option for Ball later in the year.
Earlier in the evening, Andrew Cain defeated Charlie Edwards on a 12-round split decision. Jack Turner blasted away Ryan Farrag in round two with a fierce barrage.
Cuba’s Jadier Herrera finally broke through and stopped rugged Jose Macias in round seven. Ionut Baluta upset Brad Strand on points over 10 rounds and Stephen Clarke opened the TNT broadcast with a six-round points win over Dmitri Protkunas.
