Promoter Frank Warren has announced that news about Nick Ball`s next fight is coming soon. Discussions have already begun for a major potential bout against Naoya Inoue, which could happen late this year or early in 2026.
Ball, who holds a record of 22-0-1 (13 KOs), recently defended his WBA featherweight championship for the second time in March. He defeated the experienced TJ Doheny in an intense fight marked by a heated build-up. Ball`s constant pressure caused significant damage, leading Doheny`s corner to stop the contest after the tenth round.
Warren commented on Ball`s future and also spoke about Naoya Inoue`s recent impressive victory – an eighth-round technical knockout against Ramon Cardenas, defending his undisputed super-bantamweight title even after being dropped in the second round.
“I believe Nick would do well in a fight against Inoue,” Warren stated. “I am an immense fan of Inoue. Boxers get caught sometimes. What matters is their ability to get back up and win. That shows a fighter who can absorb a punch, recover, and fight back. He is truly a top-tier fighter.”
Warren confirmed that initial talks with Inoue’s representatives have occurred. The Japanese champion is reportedly open to moving up a weight division for this potential clash. “They are interested,” Warren mentioned about Team Inoue. “As I mentioned, they need to win their upcoming fights, succeed in those, and I am confident we can finalize the deal.”
However, Ball’s immediate priority is his next opponent. “We plan to announce a significant fight for Nick within a couple of weeks,” Warren disclosed. “Once that is settled, Nick must win that fight and then will have one more bout. After that, hopefully, we can schedule him against Inoue towards the end of the year or in February for what I anticipate will be a truly spectacular fight.”
