NICK BALL almost came to blows with opponent TJ Doheny during a heated final face-off.
The Liverpudlian went eye-to-eye with the former IBF super-bantamweight champion during the weigh-ins for their featherweight showdown on Saturday night.
And they could very well have prematurely traded blows had it not been for the intervention of security.
Tensions rose between the pair as a fired-up Doheny fired verbal jabs the way of WBA 126lbs titleholder.
Ball wasn’t in the mood to let the Irishman have the final word, saying: “You’re not ready”, before they continued to trade verbal barbs.
Doheny took things to the next level by pushing Ball on the shoulder his WBA strap was draped over.
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Ball didn’t take too kindly to the challenger’s antics, returning the favour.
Doheny, 38, fumed at the physical response and made a beeline for the champion before being held back by security.
Footage of the incident went viral on social media and received a slew of comments from boxing fans, one of whom wrote on X: “The speaker always ends badly.”
Another said: “Circus.”
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And another said: “First time seeing Nick Ball actually getting p****d off.”
One remarked: “Exciting showdown.” Another chimed in: “Sell it.”
The fight was briefly in doubt when Doheny missed the featherweight title limit, coming in an ounce over the 126lbs mark.
But the Irishman returned to the scales an hour later bang on weight.
Ball claimed the WBA’s featherweight throne last June with a decision victory over Raymond Ford in Saudi Arabia.
And ‘The Wrecking Ball’ made his maiden defence of the belt the following October, stopping Ronny Rios in the tenth round of their Merseyside melee.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
