MANCHESTER plays host to one of the best domestic boxing cards of the year on Saturday night, when seven title fights will be contested at the AO Arena.
Three British titles, two Commonwealth belts, one European championship, the English heavyweight crown and even a women’s world title are all up for grabs – and yet non feature in the actual main event.
Top of the bill is a 12-round world title eliminator, but it features one of the most exciting and explosive new stars in British boxing taking on a former Olympian and world title holder.
Nick Ball vs Isaac Dogboe may not have a trinket of note attached, but it sets the winner up for a 2024 world featherweight title chance.
WRECKING BALL
After turning professional in 2017, Liverpool’s pint-sized puncher Ball has gone from small hall star to TV fan favourite thanks to his heavy hands and relentless aggression.
The 26-year-old boasts 11 knockouts in 18 wins – crucially the last four of which have come since stepping up to championships rounds on major cards.
Ball truly arrived in April last year, with his four-round demolition of Isaac Lowe on the Tyson Fury undercard at Wembley Stadium.
And since he’s blasted out three consecutive international opponents of note, two in the 12th and one in the opening round, proving his power is a threat from the first bell to the very last.
ROYAL STORM
Dogboe, 29, was born in Ghana, raised in London and now bases himself out of Miami Beach. A former British ABA champion, he utilised his African lineage to qualify for the London 2012 Games.
After turning pro in 2013, five years later he’d ran up a perfect 20-0 record, picking up a world super-bantamweight title along the way.
He lost that crown after back-to-back defeats against incredible Mexican Emanuel Navarrete during lockdown. But returned in 2020 and ran up four straight wins against quality opposition to earn a second title opportunity.
Unfortunately, Dogboe’s determination and strength were not enough to get past double Olympic gold medallist Cuban Robeisy Ramirez in April, which saw Isaac’s record dip to 24-3.
DOG FIGHT
With 15 knockouts on his own ledger, Dogboe is also considered a puncher, but that was mostly down at 122lb. At his new weight he’s looked a little undersized against full blown featherweights.
He won’t suffer that problem with Ball, however, who at five-foot-two is a couple of inches shorter even than Dogboe. But what Ball lacks in stature he makes up for in ferocity.
The match-up is certainly a step up for the Scouser, but unlike previous opponents who have attempted to punch and run he’ll find Dogboe a willing ally when it comes to throwing leather in the centre of the ring.
It may take Ball a round or two to find his measure, but when he does Dogboe will feel the power into his toes and will know he’s facing 12 enervating rounds to hear from the judges.
Isaac is strong and game enough to negate his way back up off the floor to hear the final bell. But by then Ball will have bagged his biggest scalp so far and all but secured a world title shot in 2024.
NICK’S TIP
