“When he does move up, the fight will probably want to be getting made. So, I will be ready for it.” That’s what Nick Ball said in regards to a future fight with the undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue right after his dominant victory against TJ Doheny this past Saturday. The Liverpool native made Doheny quit on the stool at the end of the 10th round after battering the 38-year-old in a relentless onslaught, thus successfully defending his WBA featherweight title for the second time. Funny enough, just last year, Doheny faced Naoya Inoue for the undisputed title at Super Bantamweight but came up short. Hoping for a fresh start, he had moved up a division—only to suffer another crushing loss. Tough break. But for Nick Ball? It was the perfect opportunity to put himself on the map. He knows that if he can land a shot against a two-division undisputed champion like Inoue, he might just be the next big thing in boxing. So, if the Monster decides to move up once more, Ball is already setting the stage for what could be an electrifying showdown.
Meanwhile, Naoya Inoue has bigger fish to fry at the moment. In two months, he will defend his undisputed titles for the fourth time against Ramon Cardenas at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a fight that will be his first outside Japan since 2021. Most fans are already betting on him to walk away victorious. But after that? Well, the writing’s on the wall. If the 31-year-old does decide to make a jump to featherweight after May, Nick Ball will be waiting for him, gloves laced. These two aren’t just sizing each other up from a distance. They’ve already started trading words online. The way things are shaping up, business might just get settled before the year is out.
All Naoya Inoue needs is two fists
After watching the chaos that went down in Nick Ball’s Saturday fight, The Monster hopped on X and made his stance crystal clear. “That Ball is funny, but don’t kick it!!” he wrote in Japanese. In case you missed, by the end of Round 1, of Saturday’s fight, TJ Doheny, clearly trying to frustrate Ball, got him in a headlock. As referee Michael Alexander stepped in to separate them, Ball, out of nowhere, lashed out and kicked Doheny in the corner. Yep, you read that right. A kick in a boxing match.
But the referee let it go with a warning and the fight continued. Fresh off the win, brimming with confidence, Nick Ball wasted no time firing back at Naoya Inoue. But instead of calling out Inoue in his division, he flipped the script and threw down a challenge at 126lbs—not where Inoue currently holds titles. “When you’re ready to kick it at 126lbs let me know,” the 28-year-old wrote defiantly. And that was enough for the pound-for-pound great to respond in kind.
“Two fists are enough for me ,” Naoya Inoue replied confidently. And honestly, why wouldn’t he be confident? The 31-year-old has been knocking opponents out early for over a decade. Since turning pro in 2012, he’s stacked up knockout wins every single year. So when it comes to taking down the WBA featherweight champion, he believes he’s got all the firepower he needs. No kicks necessary.
Two fists are enough for me https://t.co/s8HNLmSZYE
— 井上尚弥 Naoya Inoue (@naoyainoue_410) March 16, 2025
But, was this a strategic move by Nick Ball? Maybe Ball didn’t want to cut weight and risk his winning streak. Maybe he’s banking on a size advantage? Either way, Inoue didn’t hesitate. Moreover, it looks like the Japanese champion’s threat wasn’t enough to tame The Wrecking down. “Let’s make it happen and find out then,” Nick Ball wrote back.
If this fight happens, let’s be honest. Inoue will be the heavy favorite. But don’t count Nick Ball out just yet. Even Carl Frampton, a former two-weight world champion, thinks Ball could present a serious problem for one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
Could Nick Ball be Naoya Inoue’s worst “nightmare”?
Fresh off another dominant win in his hometown of Liverpool, the WBA featherweight champion has some serious options on the table. But there’s one name that keeps coming up—Naoya Inoue. And after exchanging those verbal jabs, if the 29-0 boxer really moves up to featherweight soon, Nick Ball would be right there waiting for him.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: Naoya Inoue reacts after knocking down Jason Moloney during their bantamweight title bout at MGM Grand Conference Center on October 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
But now, Carl Frampton thinks this could be a real problem for Inoue. In fact, he straight-up said Ball’s relentless, high-pressure style could be a nightmare for one of boxing’s most feared punchers. “I genuinely think he [Nick Ball] has a very good chance of beating him,” Frampton told Boxing News. That’s not something you hear every day when it comes to Inoue.
Of course, moving up in weight is always tricky. Fighters who dominate in multiple divisions eventually hit a wall, and Frampton thinks featherweight or maybe super featherweight could be that limit for Inoue. “There’s a ceiling for you at a point,” he explained. And that’s where Nick Ball comes in. His aggressive, in-your-face style could be exactly what it takes to push Inoue to his breaking point. “It’s a bit of a cliché, but Nick Ball’s style gives Inoue nightmares,” he added in a bold prediction.
Could the “Wrecking Ball” actually derail Naoya Inoue? Frampton seems to think so. But what are your thoughts on this matter?
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