Boxing champion Nick Ball created a controversial moment in his recent WBA world title fight by kicking his opponent after the bell, yet surprisingly avoided an initial point deduction.
Ball, a native of Liverpool and the WBA featherweight champion, ultimately secured a victory over former world champion TJ Doheny in their main event at the M&S Bank Arena. While a point was later deducted due to their escalating rivalry in the ring, it didn`t prevent Ball from achieving the win.
However, the most talked-about moment occurred at the end of the first round. Following the bell, an incident in the corner saw Ball kick his opponent in the leg. This action led boxing fans to joke about Ball potentially transitioning to MMA.
Nick Ball Kicks TJ Doheny En Route to Title Victory
The tension between Nick Ball and TJ Doheny was palpable in the lead-up to their fight, resulting in a highly charged first few rounds. While Doheny, from Ireland, started strong, he eventually lost momentum and was stopped in the tenth round.
A pivotal moment unfolded at the end of the first round when Doheny held Ball in a headlock. As Doheny argued with referee Michael Alexander and refused to release his hold, an enraged Ball responded by kicking Doheny in the back of the leg.
Despite the kick occurring well after the bell, Ball was not penalized with a point deduction for this incident. However, he did lose a point later in the fight for throwing his rival to the ground multiple times.
Ultimately, these penalties were inconsequential as Ball dominated the fight, leading to Doheny`s corner stopping the bout after the tenth round.
Fans Suggest Nick Ball Should Move to UFC After Kick
Following the controversial kick, many questioned why Ball wasn`t disqualified, citing the perceived inconsistency of the referee`s decision. Just weeks prior, Paddy Donovan was disqualified for a punch after the bell against Lewis Crocker, albeit under different circumstances, which fans felt set a precedent.
Some viewers humorously suggested that Ball`s kick was so impressive it warranted a career in the UFC. One fan commented online, “Sign that boy up to the UFC, he’s wasting his talents in boxing. That was a solid low kick, Doheny had a dead leg lol.”
