Jamie Ball wants 'respect' from fight

Coseley's Jamie Ball today declared he deserves "respect" for agreeing to take on double national champion Michal Pechacek next month.

Ball was this week paired with the Czech Republic and Slovakia title holder for the show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, live on BoxNation.

It has all the hallmarks of a banana skin for the Midlands light middleweight champion on June 22, who defends a 15-fight unbeaten record.

Despite his belts, little is known about the 22-year-old outside his home nations but he's also undefeated, with 10 wins and four stoppages.

But all Ball wants is to be pushed as he looks to emulate his opponent and break through the glass ceiling and into the English title picture.

As it's a 10-round fight, the 27-year-old's bout should make the cut for live transmission and 'the Black Country Bully' wants to make a statement.

He said: "I have never avoided any opponent and I never will, I feel strong and sharp so I will be ready for whatever he brings.

"I have had my learning fights, I want to see how far I can get in this sport and that means being tested.

"If I keep winning over a title distance, something has got to happen sooner or later, and another one gets me up there.

"On paper, this guy is no mug and I was offered a few I might have walked over, but I don't want that.

"In my first television appearance where I could be shown live, so I don't want anybody to be able to slate me.

"If I don't take any risks, I am not going to earn any respect."

Ball picked up the second draw on his record in a disappointing result against Nasser Al Harbi at Birmingham's Bingley Hall in March.

Al Harbi picked up a cut in the fourth round of their English title eliminator and referee Terry O'Connor waved it off in a technical decision.

As O'Connor ruled the wound to Al Harbi's right eye was caused by a clash of heads, a draw was the result, but Ball still insists it was a punch.

That would scored him the win and his dismay heightened when Andrew Lowe, who Ball stopped for the area crown, got the English title shot.

Ball said: "I feel I should be in contention to fight for the English title and look who has got the opportunity, someone who I have knocked out!

"Neither myself or Nasser wanted that outcome and that fight went the way I expected it to, I never expected to win the first few rounds.

"That was the gameplan all along, take him into the later rounds and hurt him, I knew I would have stopped him then as I was hurting him.

"Numerous people have watched the DVD and, before the punch landed, he wasn't cut and, after, he was cut but we got close straight after.

"When you are in there you know the body language of your opponent and I knew it was a punch."

For more information and tickets, call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.