Featherweight contender Nick Ball has revealed he takes inspiration from Mike Tyson and plans to channel the heavyweight legend’s “no messing” attitude when he faces Raymond Ford on Saturday.
Ball (19-0-1 11 KO) contests his second successive world title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where Ford’s WBA belt will be on the line. Their bout is part of the Matchroom Boxing vs Queensberry Promotions 5-vs-5 event.
Ball’s most recent bout was also in Riyadh, and the Englishman can count himself unlucky for not already becoming a world champion. The Liverpool fighter largely got the better of WBC champion Rey Vargas in their March fight, sending him to the canvas twice, but a controversial split decision draw saw the Mexican retain his belt.
Despite the frustration of three months ago, Ball insists he has already moved on and is fully focused on his next world title opportunity against Ford (15-0-1 8 KO). The American won the vacant title in the most dramatic of circumstances by stopping Otabek Kholmatov with seven seconds remaining while trailing on all three scorecards.
Ball Already Moved On From Vargas
“Everyone watching knew what happened, it was a terrible decision, but you can’t change it, so leave it where it is. It’s in the past,” Ball said in an interview with BoxingScene. “The way I’m feeling, I feel like I’m going to do something different but you don’t know until you get in there.
“I’d be lying to you saying I’m gonna do this, do that, I don’t really know until I get in there, but the way I’m feeling I feel like something else is going to come out of me on Saturday night.”
That level of focus and a promise of unpredictability certainly has echoes of a prime Tyson, and Ball admits that Iron Mike remains one of his boxing heroes.
“I’ve watched loads of him to be honest,” Ball said. “I still do to this day. That’s what people have been saying, we’ve got similarities. I like the way he fights.
“All his fights are exciting no matter who he’s in the ring with. He’d treat them all the same and goes into every fight the same. It’s no messing. That’s what I like about him. No messing. No wasting time. Straight to business.”
Ball Targets Undisputed
Applying it to his own approach, Ball added: “I treat every fighter I’m going to be fighting as the best I’ve ever faced. That’s what brings the best out of me. He’s the next one in line, so he is the best I’m gonna face. That’s the way you could look at it. On paper, it might not be the case, but that’s the way I like to do it.”
Ball’s fight with Ford has the potential to steal the show on Saturday. Two aggressive, high-volume punchers that possess speed and skill, it should prove an exciting match-up in styles. For Ball, though, he is focused only on the outcome and propelling himself to more major title fights.
“The main one is becoming world champion,” Ball said. “I should be world champion right now, speaking to you, but that weren’t the case. I’ve got another chance Saturday night so I won’t be letting that slip.
“So I’ll become world champion and then become undisputed champion. Everyone wants to do that. Everyone wants all the belts; and just take care of my family, look after everyone around me and be remembered as one of the best fighters.”
