Tony Bellew has given his take on the most thrilling fighter in British boxing today, singling out Nick Ball for his relentless aggression and fan-friendly style.
Tony Bellew has recently weighed in on who he believes to be the most exciting talent in Britain right now. Bellew, a respected figure in British boxing, retired with an impressive record of 30-3-1, including two notable victories over David Haye, and was a star in his own right during his heyday.
The Rise of a “Tasmanian Devil”
Bellew heaped praise on Nick Ball, highlighting his non-stop pressure. “That boy just gets in the ring and he fights and fights non-stop. Aggression. I’d go as far as to say I think he’s the fittest fighter in the country.” He described him as “literally the Tasmanian devil” due to his refusal to let opponents off the hook. Bellew admires his fearless approach, calling him a fan favourite. “For pure excitement, I’d go as far as saying he’s the most exciting fighter in this country. I can’t see past him,” Bellew added, cementing his belief in the fighter’s entertainment value.
At the time of Bellew’s comments in early 2025, Ball was indeed making significant waves in the featherweight division. The Liverpudlian had already established himself as a formidable force, known for his aggressive, come-forward style and high work rate. His journey to world-level contention began to truly accelerate in March 2024 when he challenged Rey Vargas for the WBC featherweight world title. The bout, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 8, 2024, ended in a controversial split draw. Ball officially dropped Vargas twice during the fight, once in the eighth round and again in the eleventh, though the first knockdown was disputed. Despite his efforts and strong finish, the judges scored the contest 114-112 for Vargas, 116-110 for Ball, and 113-113, resulting in Vargas retaining his belt.
Undeterred by the draw, Ball quickly secured another world title opportunity. Just three months later, on June 1, 2024, he faced Raymond Ford for the WBA featherweight world title, once again in Riyadh. This highly anticipated clash saw Ball deliver another relentless performance against the previously undefeated Ford. After 12 rounds of intense action, Ball emerged victorious via a split decision with scores of 113-115, 115-113, and 115-113. This hard-fought win marked a significant milestone for Ball, as he claimed his first major world title and handed Ford his first professional defeat. The fight itself was widely praised as an action-packed “war,” with Ball’s constant pressure eventually overwhelming Ford, who suffered cuts around both eyes and a swollen cheek by the midpoint of the fight.
The undefeated featherweight had gained attention with his relentless style and fearless performances, holding a record of 21-0-1 at the time of the original article’s publication. This record reflected his win over Raymond Ford and a subsequent successful title defense against Ronny Rios, whom he stopped in the 10th round on October 5, 2024.
Title Defenses and a Defining Loss
Following his triumph over Raymond Ford, Nick Ball continued to defend his WBA featherweight title with the same aggressive approach that had earned him Bellew’s admiration. After the win against Ronny Rios, Ball successfully defended his title twice more. On March 15, 2025, just days after Bellew’s comments were published, Ball faced former world champion TJ Doheny, securing a unanimous decision victory. He then went on to defeat Sam Goodman by unanimous decision on August 16, 2025, in another WBA World Featherweight championship bout held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, Ball’s reign as WBA featherweight champion came to an end on February 7, 2026. He faced Brandon Figueroa in a highly anticipated contest for the WBA World Featherweight championship at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, United Kingdom. In a hard-fought battle, Ball suffered his first professional defeat, losing by technical knockout in the 12th round. This loss brought his impressive professional record to 23 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, with 13 of his victories coming by way of knockout.
Future Prospects and the Inoue Factor
Bellew stressed the need for Ball to face top-tier opposition, believing Ball’s aggressive style would shine even more against high-level fighters. Despite the recent loss of his world title, Ball remains a significant attraction in the featherweight division. His fearless approach and relentless pressure continue to make him a fan favourite, and he has consistently proven his ability to engage in thrilling contests.
A potential mega-fight that has long been discussed for Ball is a clash with Japanese pound-for-pound superstar Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue. Ball himself has expressed confidence in going toe-to-toe with the best, including Inoue. As of May 2026, Inoue remains the undisputed super bantamweight (122 lbs) champion, having recently defended his titles against Junto Nakatani on May 2, 2026, winning by unanimous decision. Inoue has indicated his intention to move up to the featherweight division (126 lbs) in the future, possibly after one more fight at super bantamweight. The prospect of Ball’s aggressive, high-pressure style meeting Inoue’s devastating power and precision at featherweight is a tantalizing one for boxing fans, promising a potential “blockbuster clash” and one of the most brutal fights in the sport.
With a world title now no longer in his hands, Ball has the chance to prove Bellew right by
