Rather than providing a glimpse behind the curtain, social media has given boxing fans a ringside seat to the inner workings of the sport.

Fights are negotiated in plain sight, feuds erupt and peter out and — for better or worse — we learn more about the fighters’ lives than ever before.

Everyone, that is, apart from Nick Ball. The occasional captionless holiday snap or training photo aside, the WBA featherweight champion keeps things deliberately low key.

In an era when some fighters spend more time building their image and profile outside the ring than challenging themselves inside it, Ball remains a mystery.

“Yeah, and it's staying that way,” Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) told The Ring with a laugh.

On Aug. 16, he will put himself out there for all to see when he travels to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to make the third defence of his WBA title against the unbeaten Sam Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs) which will be streamed globally on DAZN.

“That's why I don't put things all over social media, because they'll never know. It's all too much. Also, it's good to stay focused in real life and not get distracted by this Instagram and all these apps on your phone. Stay in real life.”

Ball’s unique fighting style, unassuming character and aversion to publicity make him an anomaly in the clout hungry world of modern boxing.

People refuse to accept what they don’t understand, and despite a long, impressive run of form and his no-holds-barred style of fighting the 28-year-old Liverpudlian receives a fraction of the attention or acclaim of other less accomplished fighters.

“They all underestimate me until they get in there with me,” he said. “Even people watching underestimate me. It’s different when you're feeling it, when I’m in your face and you realise how strong I am."

“It's a good thing because they've been underestimating me all my life. I've been the underdog my whole life. It's nothing new to me. I love it.

“Especially where we're from, we get overlooked. It’s hard to make it out from where I'm from and do your city proud. I’ve done that, I've overcome that. Everything now is a bonus and I'm going to keep going now at this top level.”

Although he doesn’t spend hour after hour glued to his phone, Ball does keep up to date with the news and couldn’t fail to miss the very public criticism that some extremely high profile fighters have recently received for turning in some safety-first performances.

Given Ball’s all-action, aggressive way of fighting you may expect him to come down firmly on one particular side of the argument. That isn’t the case.

Ball’s short, stocky stature and relentless work rate pose a unique set of problems for his featherweight counterparts. He has spent years honing his skills and working out the best way to apply them. Ball isn’t going to voluntarily give up those advantages and doesn’t see why others should be talked out of boxing to their strengths, whatever they are.

“That's up to them, isn't it?” Ball said. “There’s a lot on the line so if they want to box that way, they can and if people want to judge them, let them. The people that are judging them wouldn't dare step in the ring so it doesn't matter, does it? As long as they're getting paid.

“At the top, you've got to play it safe anyway. You can't just go all guns blazing with top opponents at world level because you'll get tagged on the way in and then they'll be laughing at you when you're on the floor. It’s a hard one.

"It depends what type of boxing you want to watch. If you want to watch exciting fighters then there's a certain few you can watch but at the end of the day, boxing is hitting and not getting hit so if they want to do it by boxing, they can.”

Although Ball is now established at the top of the world featherweight division and the stakes get higher with each outing, he isn’t going to temper his style or change the approach that has brought him this far.

Ball has been competing at the highest level since he beat former WBO junior featherweight champion, Isaac Dogboe, in November 2023.

In his first world title tilt, he had to settle for an unfortunate draw after appearing to bully tall, gangly Mexican veteran, Rey Vargas. Three months later, however, he outfought slick New Jersey southpaw, Raymond Ford, to win the WBA title.

Since then, he has turned away the experienced Ronny Rios and the aggressive TJ Doheny.

Ball has tested himself against a variety of styles and experience has taught him that he is best served by imposing himself.

One of boxing’s laziest assumptions is that being defensively aware means using slick footwork, reflexes and distance to avoid punches but, providing it is done smartly, staying close can sometimes be the safest place in a ring.

“My sort of offence is my defence,” he said. “I'm hitting them and then I'm not getting hit back because I'm hitting them that much, maybe. I don't know. I've still got loads to work on now at this level. You learn every day.

“Every opponent's different so I don't really look at them and think, “Oh, I need to work on something because he's done that.”

“It's a fight. You're going to get hit at some point.

“People think you just get to this level and lose your hunger. It’s not the case because you've got something that they want and you've worked your whole life for it so you're going to go harder and you can see what you can get, aren’t you? You get a little taste for it and you want more of it.”

Earlier this year, a cut eye cost Goodman a shot at undisputed super bantamweight champion, Naoya Inoue, and his quest for a world title has led him up to the 126lb division.

Ball isn’t the type to spend too much time worrying or talking about his opponents, but although Goodman is stepping up in weight, he is expecting a full-blooded effort from the Australian.

“He'll probably stand and try and fight, won't he?” Ball said. “He wants to become world champion.

“Then he'll realise he can't do that and then I'll take over. Either way, whatever way it's going to go, it's going to be in my favour.”