NICK BALL has a target on his back and WBA world title coming over from New York.
Brownsville’s Bruce Carrington grabbed the vacant featherweight WBC version on Saturday night
Bruce Carrington beat Carlos CastroCredit: AP
Nick Ball is the WBA championCredit: Getty
And the Mike Tyson protege – – told SunSport before the bout that a win would give him the option to return to a happy hunting ground where he faced Wales Joe Cordina in 2016.
When we asked him if the Liverpool champ is on his radar, Carrington said: “100 per cent. Definitely a Nick Ball.
“A guy like him would definitely intrigue me to cross the Pond and fight in the UK.
“I’ve fought in the UK once as an amateur and so I’m very familiar with how the fans are over there as an amateur, the amateur scene in America is like dead compared to the UK. Let alone the pros.
“So when I went over and I fought in the UK, it was just electrifying. They packed the house and the crowd was going crazy and the crowd was even cheering for me from time to time, and I was fighting the UK guy!
“I loved that and that just makes me want to fight in the UK even more.
“But, if it can’t happen, Nick Ball would get a lot of love out here in New York City.”
Castro was Carrington’s first big step-up fight and the two-weight world champ enjoyed a great fourth round that made it 2-2 on the cards.
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There's a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
will to make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder, while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
- Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebsastian Fundora vs Keith Furman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
But Carrington grew in confidence and power and finished Castro off with a ruthless ninth-round combination.
Ball already has his heavy hands full with dangerous Brandon Figueroa on March 8, in Liverpool.
But a mouthwatering unification seems easy to make if his latest defence is a success.
Carrington finished Castro off with a ruthless ninth-round combinationCredit: Getty
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
