Nick ready to KICK on

BALL OVERCOMES 'FRUSTRATION' TO RETAIN TITLE

- By CONNOR O'NEILL

NICK Ball retained his WBA world featherweight title and then immediately set his sights on a huge showdown with Naoya Inoue.

TJ Doheny was pulled out by his corner before the 11th round at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday night as Ball once again showed why he is viewed as one of the best fighters in the world.

However, the fight was not without controversy. After Doheny appeared to get Ball in a headlock at the end of the first round, the Everton Red Triangle fighter responded by kicking out at the Irishman before he was deducted a point in the ninth for twice pushing his opponent to the canvas.