Ball looking to send a message
Coseley light middleweight Jamie Ball aims to show Martyn King what is a stern test on paper is a mismatch in execution at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Coseley light middleweight Jamie Ball aims to show Martyn King what is a stern test on paper is a mismatch in execution at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
The 25-year-old gets up his year up and running with a six, threes against the higher-ranked Cumbrian next Sunday, on the undercard of the city's first ever online pay-per-view.
King sits 10 places above the 'Black Country Bully' in 55th place of Boxing News' ranking for the division, a state of affairs that has not sat well with his next foe.
Ball is unbeaten in eight pro fights with one stoppage and no draws since his debut in June 2008, while his opponent has lost his last four fights on points and the two wins on the rest of his record have both gone the distance.
Now the Dudley-based southpaw is looking to extend his losing streak and send a message to the selectors in the process.
He said: "Martin is above me and I can't for the life of me understand why, so on paper this is a notch up the ladder for me. It's down to me to prove the rankings are wrong, and it's a fight that is well worth having in that respect."
Nonetheless, Ball will not be at 100 per cent and still needs an operation on a torn knee cartilage, which has been cancelled for the second time after doctors wanted him to go under the knife in late January, but will now undergo surgery at the end of this month.
Not that training has been taken any easier, with extensive sparing down at noted trainer Anthony Farnell's gym in Manchester with Matthew Hall, a former Commonwealth champion at light middle who has a European Union title fight coming up.
But, with boxing royalty in former World light welter champion Ricky Hatton MBE at ringside for the Civic show, everyone is raising their game.
Ball added: "It's even more of an incentive to pick your training up with a legend like Ricky watching at ringside."
For tickets, contact promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.
The 12-fight show will also be broadcast online live on pay-per view at a cost of just £2.99, through Hatton TV at www.brandhatton.com.
