Nick Ball appeared to kick his opponent TJ Doheny at the end of the first round of one of the most anticipated boxing fights on Saturday.
With the WBA world featherweight title at stake, the fighters concluded the first five minutes with a controversial illegal kick, which saw the Irishman fall to the ground in pain.
It came after Doheny missed weight on his first attempt on the scale, as he was given an hour to lose an ounce before successfully being admitted to the bout.
Furthermore, before the fight and during the face-to-face ceremony, the experienced Irishman confidently told the 28-year-old champion ‘You’re not ready’.
Doheny may have been wrong, as Ball has successfully defended his title again after the 38-year-old’s corner pulled him out of the fight.
The Liverpool-born star earned his world title in a controversial fight against Raymond Ford, which ended in a split decision.
The Liverpool-born boxer has since defended his belt once against Ronny Rios in October last year, with a TKO stoppage in the 10th round after the American’s corner threw in the towel.
Ball remains an undefeated fighter, with 22 wins now and 13 from knockouts. However, he has a draw against Rey Vargas since March 2024.
More to follow…