Nick Ball accused TJ Doheny of quitting against Naoya Inoue when they met for the first time ahead of their WBA featherweight title fight on March 15 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
Ball makes the second defense of his title after successfully stopping Ronny Rios back in October at the M&S Bank Arena, a month after a back injury contributed to Doheny being stopped by the great Inoue, the undisputed super-bantamweight champion.
“It’s good to be back fighting in Liverpool where boxing should be,” said Ball, 27, before their exchange intensified.
“It’s no secret I was killing myself getting down to 126. I’ll be a big strong featherweight on the night.
“It’s annoying me so much people saying I quit. I couldn’t play in the park with my son for a month.”
“I don’t regret [saying he quit],” Ball responded. “Only he knows at the end of the day. Make sure your back is good.”
Ireland’s Doheny, 38, then heated up when he replied: “You’ll be star-fished on your back.”
Andrew Cain defends his British and Commonwealth titles against former flyweight world champion Charlie Edwards on the undercard.
Edwards did little to hide his frustration that Cain had decided not to attend.
“I don’t think Andrew [Cain] thought I’d take this fight – that’s probably why he’s not here,” he said. “He might even pull out of the fight.
“Mind games maybe. It’s a big mistake putting their young gun in with me.”
Edwards was asked to send a message to the absent Cain, and he responded: “I’m your kryptonite and on the 15th of March. Charlie Edwards is going to whoop your ass.”
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