Ball v Doheny: Nick Ball kicks TJ Doheny on way to retaining world title

Ball – who made his debut in a Liverpool night club in 2017 – entered the ring to ear-ringing roars from the partisan Liverpool crowd, with the 11,000 capacity arena around a third full.

Doheny smirked as he was greeted by jeers. The former super-bantamweight world champion is no stranger to hostile environments, having competed in Thailand, United Arab Emirates and America.

Sparks began to fly when Doheny had the champion in a headlock and refused to let go. A frustrated Ball responded by kicking Doheny in the legs and he slumped to the ground.

Ball was only given a stern word by the referee and put the incident behind him. The 5ft 2in champion, known as a come-forward pressure fighter, landed a stinging left hook to the body and an overhand right in the third.

Wily southpaw Doheny posed a credible threat with his power. He had finished 20 of his 26 wins inside the distance.

But Ball was competing in his fourth world-title level fight in the past year and that sharpness and speed began to show.

The Portlaoise fighter went back to his corner puffing for air after a straight right in the sixth.

Ball was deducted a point in the ninth for wrestling Doheny to the ground, having been given a warning for the same offence earlier.

However, the writing was on the wall.

After several sustained attacks, with left and right hooks and three uppercuts in the 10th, the official was poised to call off the fight, regardless of whether Doheny’s team instructed him to or not.