Featherweight contender Nick ‘The Wrecking’ Ball 19-0 (11) has all but guaranteed himself a world title shot with a wide points decision over former WBO super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe 24-4 (15) at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old from Liverpool used his compact style to great effect, picking his shots well and dictating the pace of the fight. Dogboe, who had a knockdown ruled against him in the fourth that appeared to be more of a push, had his moments in the fight but they were few and far between.
At the conclusion of the bout all three judges scored the fight for Ball 119-108, 116-111 and 118-109.
The two wider scorecards were identical to two of the cards handed in after Dogboe’s last fight, an unsuccessful bid for the vacant WBO featherweight title against Cuban southpaw Robeisy Ramirez 13-1 (8) in April.
It was clearly the biggest win of Ball’s six year pro career and one that puts him on a path to bigger and brighter things.
“I’m feeling good. It was a good performance from myself,” Ball said after the fight. “I feel like I just controlled that fight there at a world level. And this is world level, isn’t it? It doesn’t get any bigger than this, only for world titles now. I’ve just put myself in a position to do that going on from here.”
The victory will see Bell installed as the WBC’s 126-pound mandatory contender to Rey Vargas 36-1 (22) who won the title from Filipino Mark Magsayo 24-2 (16) by split decision in July last year.
The 32-year-old Mexican was last in action in February when he made an unsuccessful attempt to become a three-weight world champion by challenging O’Shaquie Foster 21-2 (12) for the vacant WBC super featherweight title, losing via unanimous decision.
With his awkward style and long limbs, Vargas is a tough out for anyone. But promoter Frank Warren believes it’s a challenge his charge is ready for.
“He’s just become the mandatory for the title, for the full WBC title,” the Queensberry Promotions boss said. “That was a consummate professional performance. He never put a foot wrong, nice and composed, controlled the fight.
“He’s got controlled aggression, he’s a super, super fighter. I love him, I love watching him box. And he’s there now. It’s not the next fight, it’s going to be the fight after, it’s going to be for the world title and we’ll make sure it’s over here.”
Asked if he had a message for Rey Vargas, Ball said: “He’ll find out when I get in the ring with him.”
In his last fight in May, Ball scored a 12th round knockout of Ludumo Lamati 21-1 (11) when the South African’s boxer threw in the towel with less than a minute to go in the final round.
Lamati was subsequently hospitalised for injuries sustained in the fight.
