Nick Ball puts his WBA featherweight crown on the line when he takes on Sam Goodman on Saturday night
Nick Ball poses for a photo ahead of his fight against Sam Goodman (Image: (Richard Pelham/Getty Images))
Nick Ball has hit back at claims from Bruce Carrington that his world title showdown against Sam Goodman this weekend will be ‘one-sided’. Ball will put his WBA featherweight crown on the line when he takes on the Australian in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night.
The Everton Red Triangle fighter stopped TJ Doheny back in March in the second defence of the title he won against Raymond Ford last year. Saturday’s fight is part of the undercard for Moses Itauma’s huge heavyweight showdown against Dillian Whyte.
But speaking ahead of the bout, Carrington told The Ring that he believes Ball is taking an easy defence in what he described as a ‘non-puncher’ in Goodman.
Responding to those claims, Ball said: “That’s his opinion. All the offer stuff, he’s chatting s**t, that’s all lies.
“He keeps mentioning my name quite a lot, I’m getting a bit worried about him, it’s a bit strange how much I’m on his mind. He needs to chill a bit.”
Before he added: “You don’t know what’s going to happen until the bell goes – no one does – and that’s the honest answer.
“You can prepare just enough to have an idea, but then everything can change [on the night]. So you’ve got to be prepared for anything – covering all angles – and that’s what we do.”
“I definitely get nervous [before a fight], but it’s like I’m nervous to do well. You’re going out there in front of thousands of people, including your friends and family, so it’s normal to get nervous.
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Nick Ball will defend his WBA featherweight title on Saturday, August 16, when he fights Sam Goodman in Riyadh.
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“But it’s about what you do with those nerves, and whether you let them take control of you.
“As fighters, and as people that can handle the pressure, we use those nerves to the best of our ability. Well, that’s what I do anyway. The key is to not panic when you get nervous.”
A win would give Ball plenty of options on where to go next, and Barry McGuigan, who became World featherweight Champion in 1985, believes the 28-year-old doesn’t have the profile he deserves yet.
He said: “Ball is a worthy champion. He would have been hard to beat in any era. He hasn’t yet got the profile he deserves, but that will come with big fights.
“A rematch with Vargas would certainly stir the imagination. As would a rematch with Raymond Ford, who he beat on a split-decision for the WBA title three months later.
“Ford has since moved up to super featherweight, but would jump at the chance of revenge. It’s all about creating narratives, forging a reputation in battles against rivals.”