Nick Ball stepped into the ring with WBA champion Raymond Ford to earn a split decision with Ray Vargas on the Queensbury-Game 5-on-5 undercard in Riyadh.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Ball told BoxingScene at Liverpool’s Red Triangle Arena. – Thanks to everyone involved, I have the opportunity to fight again for the world title. I hope so. Another world title and another big place. I want to hold it with both hands. I can’t wait to fight. This is important and more advanced. It’s an exciting time for everyone to watch in Saudi Arabia. I was meant to be inside.
Ball (19 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss, 11 KOs) was considered unlucky in his draw with WBC champion Vargas in Riyadh on March 3. Vargas hit the canvas in the eighth and 11th rounds.
“Yeah, the last game was a payoff and so on, but it was a long time ago,” Ball said. – I leave it where it is and focus on what is at hand. Honestly, fighting him was frustrating. He ran and fell to the floor. The referee broke it up and it was just a dark fight. I tried to catch him and couldn’t, but I almost caught him.
-That’s boxing. Everyone has their own way of life and trying to achieve victory. I didn’t expect him to run like that all night, a former world champion. He’s Mexican, they say they’re all tough. He’s the opposite, isn’t he? Well, I never thought so. I was shocked, and I think everyone there was shocked. Even if something like this happens, how do you survive?
Hard Work Paying Off For Nick Ball Ahead Of 5 vs 5 Date With Raymond Ford https://t.co/HvqLXoDcxg
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) April 29, 2024
Frank Warren, Bauer’s promoter, didn’t have much time to think about his East Coast debut and immediately called. “He gave me another opportunity,” Ball said. — He called me a week after the [Vargas] game and he said there will be opportunities in 5-on-5 and things like that. Basically, it’s easy to install.
On June 1, 10 goldsmiths sat on stage in London to read the card, a luxury bill promoted by the Riyadh Times for the Alalshikh of Turkey. As Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn faced each other, the masks were separated one by one.
“I got the idea because we had to go to Bulgaria to shoot a promotional video,” explained Ball. – So we did, and it was another crazy experience. So, before the press conference, we were told to wear masks. We got dressed and we all got on stage.
——When I threw it, the plastic was soaked (pointing to his forehead). Some people will talk to you. My mom called me and said, “Wipe your forehead, you’re bleeding.” Yes, masks are included. It’s a bit different though, but mostly it’s the same because you have to focus on yourself and your fight. Otherwise, it’s not a team effort, you may be focused on other things, and the work may not get done. Of course, we are a Queensbury team and we want to be a winning team, but we have to focus on getting things done first.
Ford competed against Otabek Kholmatov for a Fight of the Year nomination and scored a late victory to win his first world title. “It’s great,” Ball said of Ford’s win. – I didn’t watch the whole fight, I watched the highlights and the first five rounds and stuff like that, then the last one. He took it out of the bag and finished his work. Hats off to him. I don’t know what to expect from him, I don’t care. I focus on myself and what I can do.
The 27-year-old Liverpool player hails from the Middle East.
“It’s different, but it’s good,” Ball said of his latest visit to Saudi Arabia. – It’s a noble experience and you will be treated well there. Life is good, it’s true. It’s an exciting time and something to look forward to. I just have to do what I’ve done, what got me to where I am now. Hold on to the people who helped me get to where I am because without them I wouldn’t be where I am.
Ball’s career took a sharp turn north after he was stopped in the sixth round by Isaac Lowe in the Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte fight at Wembley two years ago. This explosive victory catapulted Poipoi from a little-known town in England into the WBC ranks to become one of England’s most exciting boxers.
“I signed with Queensberry in the 12th game or something,” Ball recalled. — and then I played him in the 15th game. Since then, its value has steadily increased, right? From the outside, everything looks fast, but it doesn’t happen overnight. My friends and I were at the gym every day, working hard. If you put it in, you have a chance.
