Boxing champion Nick Ball avoided a lot as a degree deduction despite kicking his rival after the bell during their WBA world title fight tonight.
Liverpool native and WBA featherweight champion Ball ended up stopping former world champion TJ Doheny of their headliner on the M&S Bank Arena. He did find yourself having a degree taken as their bitter feud boiled over within the ring, but still managed to land the finish.
Nevertheless, the highlight of the night really got here after the primary as an incident within the corner after the bell led Ball to kick his opponent within the leg. Boxing fans even joked that he should move to MMA consequently of the incident.
Nick Ball kicks TJ Doheny on path to world title win
Nick Ball and TJ Doheny spent the build-up for his or her big fight at one another’s throats, and it led to an incredibly heated first few rounds. The Irishman began well but faded and was ultimately stopped within the tenth.
One key moment happened at the top of the primary when Doheny collared Ball in something of a headlock. As he was arguing with referee Michael Alexander he refused to let it go, which enraged Ball who responded by kicking Doheny behind the leg.
Despite the incontrovertible fact that it was not only way after the bell and was a kick, Ball avoided even a degree deduction for the incident. Nevertheless, just a few rounds later he threw his rival down multiple times, which did see him have a degree taken away.
It ultimately didn’t matter as he dominated proceedings, and eventually forced a stoppage from the Doheny corner after the tenth.
Fans call for Nick Ball to affix UFC after controversial kick
Following the incident, there have been many calls for Ball to be disqualified as a result of the absurdity of the decision. Just weeks earlier Paddy Donovan was disqualified for a punch after the bell against Lewis Crocker, albeit in several circumstances, which appeared to supply precedent for fans.
“Ref see’s him, yells at him and does nothing,” one fan noted on X. “How is that not a DQ or point deduction on the very least?”
Some viewers joked that the kick was impressive enough to even earn Ball a spot within the UFC, with one writing: “Sign that boy as much as the UFC, he’s wasting his talents in boxing. That was a solid low kick, Doheny had a dead leg lol.”
