Tensions boiled over in the ring on Saturday night as Nick Ball put his WBA featherweight title on the line against TJ Doheny.
At the end of the first stanza, both men wound up against the ropes, with Doheny placing Ball in a headlock.
TNT SportsBall kicked Doheny to canvas after being caught in a headlock[/caption]
It elicited an angry reaction from Ball who landed a stiff low kick in reply that sent Doheny tumbling to the canvas.
Referee Michael Alexander reprimanded both fighters, but chose not to take a point from either man.
Ball went on to successfully defend his world title with a 10th round stoppage win – much to the delight of his adoring home crowd at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
The 28-year-old battered Doheny from pillar to post in the second half of the fight, prompting the Irishman’s corner to pull him out before the championship rounds got underway.
Ball, who snatched the black and gold strap from Raymond Ford last June, improves to 22-0-1 as a pro, with the sole blemish on his otherwise exemplary record coming via a contentious draw with Rey Vargas 12 months ago for the WBC belt.
His win over Doheny marked the second defence of his world title and the Liverpudlian now has his sights set on a super fight with undisputed super bantamweight king Naoya Inoue.
Promoter Frank Warren told TNT Sports: “If that happens, it will be towards the end of the year, or maybe early next year, but that’s the plan.
“He’s not going to wait till then, he’ll still want to fight. Our job is to keep him busy and keep bringing him back here.
“We’re in Liverpool, everybody’s come out for this. They’ve been a marvellous crowd.
“We’re going to keep coming back for your champion.”
Of his performance, Ball added: “I’ve got to be switched on and take my time.
“They want to see all action, but obviously I can box and do that, so I’ve shown both now.
“I felt him getting tired with the pace I was setting. So, it all played out good.”
Doheny will now be forced to assess his future after suffering a second consecutive stoppage loss.
The Portlaoise puncher was knocked out in the seventh round by Inoue in September and is now 26-6 as a pro.
At 38 years old, Doheny isn’t getting any younger and is unlikely to get another crack at a world title.
