Nick Ball is the British world champ likened to Mike Tyson and tipped to fight pound-for-pound KO king Naoya Inoue

2 weeks ago 60

NICK BALL is Britain’s miniature Mike Tyson tipped to fight pound-for-pound KO king Naoya Inoue.

The Wrecking Ball – as he is perfectly nicknamed – is the WBA featherweight champion with 21 wins.

Promoter Frank Warren with Nick Ball[/caption]

Ball won his world title against Ray Ford[/caption]

Tyson pictured during his 1986 heyday[/caption]

Only 5ft 2in, the Liverpudlian has earned comparisons to Iron Mike due to their squat figure and aggressive boxing styles.

Ball won the title against American Ray Ford last June – and revealed his admiration for heavyweight great Tyson in the build up.

He told the Daily Mail: “I’ve always looked up to Mike Tyson.

“I appreciate his style of boxing and wanted to incorporate that into my own style.

“No messing about, looking to get the job done against his opponents. It’s all action and I think that is what everyone wants to watch as well.

“You get your money’s worth when you are watching people like me and Mike Tyson because it is edge of your seat stuff.”

Ball, 28, defended his title against Ronny Rios, 35, with a tenth-round stoppage in October.

He now returns on Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena against Irishman TJ Doheny, 38, who is moving up from super-bantamweight.

Doheny fell victim to an Inoue knockout defeat in September – pulling himself out in round seven with a back injury.

Inoue, 31, is considered one of the world’s best with a frightening 29-0 record with 26 KOs.

He has titles in FOUR divisions, from light-flyweight to super-bantamweight.

And a move to the 126lb featherweight limit has been teased – where Ball is waiting in the wings.

Promoter Frank Warren told BoxingScene: “I love Nick Ball. You know that. He’s a magnificent fighter.

“He’s brilliant at what he’s done, the way he’s come through, showing the world what he’s about.

“He’s just been fabulous at what he’s done, how he’s taken advantage of the opportunities that he’s had and showing the world what he’s all about.

“The fight with him and Inoue, and Inoue coming up in weight, if that happens in December, I would love it to happen.

“They’ve all got to keep winning, obviously, but I would love that fight.”

Naoya Inoue is linked with a fight against Ball[/caption]