LONDON, England — Nick Ball has shrugged off Bruce Carrington’s claims that he took a "one-sided fight" in Sam Goodman on Aug. 16.

Ball will defend his WBA featherweight title against unbeaten Australian Goodman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Esports World Cup event headlined by Moses Itauma against Dillian Whyte.

For the Liverpudlian, it will represent a return to the city where he first won the title, via split decision against Ray Ford on June 1, 2024. He has since defended the belt twice in his home city.

While he continues to call out current undisputed junior featherweight king Naoya Inoue, Ball, 28, has business to attend to in the shape of Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs), who twice pulled out of a fight with the Japanese megastar because of a cut.

But one of the leading contenders, Carrington, recently told The Ring that he believes Ball is taking an easy defence in what he described as a "non-puncher" in Goodman. Carrington, who is a Ring Magazine Ambassador, also claimed that his team had sent a lucrative offer to Ball only for the champion to turn it down.

Now, Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) has responded to that article, insisting that there is no truth in Carrington’s claims.

“That's his opinion and all the other stuff, he's chatting [expletive] on that,” Ball said.

“That's all lies so there’s not much really I can say. He's lying about that and his opinion on my upcoming fight, that's his opinion to be honest. 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 so he needs to chill a bit.

“I can only fight if they put it in front of me, can't I? Just keep going and if the fights happen, they happen.”

Ball also warned Carrington that he might be going about securing a crack at his world title in the wrong way.

He added: “I’m not that involved to let it annoy me. But if he wants his shot he wants to be careful how he’s going about it because he might not get that shot.

“He’s hungry isn’t he? He’s doing what he’s doing, he’s working his way up so you can’t really knock him. He wants his shot so you can’t really knock him, but on that one he’s chatting [expletive].”

Ball’s world title defence against Goodman will be shown live on DAZN pay-per-view (£19.99 in the UK; $19.99 in the United States; $39.99 in Australia).