Nick Ball is entertaining overtures from two top adversaries he could face next.
Fresh off a 10th-round stoppage win against TJ Doheny, the WBA featherweight title holder Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) drew callouts from undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue and undefeated featherweight upstart Bruce Carrington.
Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) quipped on social media, “That Ball is funny, but don’t kick!” referencing Ball’s foul of Doheny after the opening round. Ball replied, “When you’re ready to kick it at 126 pounds, let me know.”
"The Monster" countered, “Two fists are enough for me,” and Ball responded, “Let’s make it happen and find out then.”
Inoue ended the exchange teasing his long-anticipated move to 126 pounds by offering Ball the following thought: “Until that day comes, let’s increase each other’s value.”
Separately chiming in to challenge The Ring’s No. 3 rated featherweight was Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs), who said: “I would love to fight Nick Ball sometime this year. I just want my shot.”
Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, is keen on staging a clash featuring Ball and Inoue later this year.
“Everyone is speaking about [Inoue],” Ball told The Ring. “The quicker the fight is made, the better. Get it out of the way.”
Manouk Akopyan is a lead writer for The Ring. He can be reached on X and Instagram @ManoukAkopyan.