Over the years, Frank Warren has shown a knack for choosing the right fight at the right time.
The Hall of Fame promoter’s instincts will be put to the test again this Friday night when Nick Ball challenges Rey Vargas for the WBC featherweight world title.
Warren has spent the best part of five years manoeuvring Ball to the fringes of world level.
There have been sensible steps along the way. In April 2022, the unbeaten Liverpudlian was handed a showcase spot on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight title defence against Dillian Whyte and bludgeoned Isaac Lowe to defeat at Wembley Stadium.
Last November, Warren decided his man was ready and matched him with the world class Isaac Dogboe in a final eliminator for Vargas’ WBC belt. Ball, 27, aced his toughest assignment to date and comprehensively outboxed and outfought the former super bantamweight world champion.
Ball has more than earned his shot at Vargas but now needs to take his game to another level. Until recently, Vargas held one of the longest unbeaten streaks in world boxing. Last November, WBC super featherweight champion, O’Shaquie Foster, snapped Vargas’ undefeated 36-fight run and ended his hopes of becoming a two-weight world champion but Vargas remains unbeaten at 126lbs.
“This is a cracking fight. I fancy our man. It’s not gonna be easy at all but he can do it,” Warren told 32Red. “If he can impose himself – which he can do – then he’s got a tremendous workrate and the one thing about him – which I hope is going to be the case and I hope I’m not jinxing it – is that he isn’t easy to hit. He makes people miss and then he makes them pay for missing.”
Ball has become a must-see attraction in British boxing but he gets the opportunity to announce himself to the world on Friday night. Boxing fans have grown familiar with Vargas over the years and the fight between Joshua and Ngannou is certain to attract a massive audience of general sports fans. Ball’s aggressive style is made for television and certain to grab the attention. Ball can become a major star by beating the tough Mexican.
“He certainly wants it. There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” Warren said. “I genuinely think he can do this and this will be his moment. If the worst comes to the worst and he gets beaten then it’s not the end of the world. It’s experience. He’s fighting the number one guy in the world.
“If he wins this fight, you know it’s gonna be exciting because he can’t be anything but exciting. That’s what he does. If he comes through then he’s well and truly there.”
Ball certainly can’t afford to overlook Vargas and Warren has learned to never take a victory for granted. Nonetheless, he has had to start pencilling in ideas for the upcoming Queensberry versus Matchroom card that will feature five fighters from each stable facing off. Josh Warrington has stated that he is looking to move up to super featherweight but provided Ball emerges from the fight with Vargas unscathed, Warren likes the idea of matching him with the two-time IBF featherweight champion.
“I would love that fight,” he said.