Nick Ball is not expected to face Luis Nery in his upcoming WBA featherweight title defense. His promoter, Frank Warren, stated that the fight “is not happening,” addressing recent online speculation that suggested the bout could take place in August.
Reports had indicated a potential clash between Ball and Nery as part of an August 16 undercard in Saudi Arabia, which was slated to feature Teofimo Lopez versus Devin Haney in the main event. However, the Lopez-Haney fight itself is now reportedly off, further dampening prospects for other potential bouts on that card.
ESPN`s Salvador Rodriguez had also shared information about the proposed fight on social media platform X. Warren`s definitive statement means fans of the undefeated Ball, who holds a record of 22-0-1 with 13 knockouts, must await news regarding his next opponent.
Last month, the Queensberry Promotions head revealed that a “big fight” announcement was planned for the Liverpool native. Attention is also focused on a potential challenge against Naoya Inoue, with Warren expressing strong interest in matching his fighter against “The Monster.”
Regarding a potential clash with Inoue, Warren commented:
“I like Nick in the fight. Inoue, I’m a massive, massive fan. Guys get caught [in fights]. It’s when they get up and win, that’s fighters who can take a punch when you can get off the floor and come back. He’s a quality, quality fighter.”
Warren also confirmed that preliminary discussions had occurred with Inoue`s team.
“They’re up for it. As I say, they gotta win their respective fights, come through those, and I’m sure we’ll get it done.”
Ball is currently riding a wave of success, establishing himself as a leading figure in British boxing. The 28-year-old put his draw against Rey Vargas in March 2024 behind him by securing his world title three months later against Raymond Ford. While dominant victories against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny in Liverpool showcased the Scouser`s formidable attributes, supporters are hoping to see him face more challenging opponents in the near future.
