“No More Waiting: Bruce Carrington Declares War On Nick Ball’s ‘Roughhouse’ Reign, Demands Title Fight To Cement Featherweight Supremacy

Highly ranked contender Bruce Carrington let WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball know that he wants his title shot against him next. Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) has been milking his WBA belt since capturing it last year against Raymond Ford and treating the talented #2-ranked Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs) like he doesn’t exist on this planet.

Ball needs a win over a high-profile fighter to make his fight against Naoya Inoue much bigger, and Carrington would be the perfect guy for him to add to his resume. Of course, the British fighter Ball lacks the bravado to take on the talented American Carrington, it’s understandable.

Fish Bait Tactics

Ball’s recent opponents show that he’s not taking any chances of losing his fish bait to lure the Japanese star, Inoue. He obviously doesn’t want to lose his WBA belt because, without that, he’s nowhere. Carrington would be a real threat to the Ball, who is easy to hit, and seems to turn his fights into foul contests with the roughhouse tactics he uses to win.

Last Saturday, Ball had a devil of a time beating the old veteran TJ Doheny, getting a boxing lesson for six rounds, and resorting to an ugly witches brew blend of MMA and WWE wrestling tactics out of frustration.

The southpaw Doheny was lighting the 5’2″ Ball up with left hands all night and teeing off on him. If not for the 38-year-old TJ’s right eye closing up, he might have won. I hate to think what a younger version of the Ireland-born Doheny would have done to Nick Ball last Saturday.

#IJustWantMyShot https://t.co/9aRTGKdxzF

— Bruce Carrington (@B_Carrington1) March 16, 2025

“No. He’s probably the most challenging in terms of his size, and that’s maybe,” said Bruce Carrington to YSM Sports Media when asked if WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza is the best fighter in the 126-lb division outside of himself. “I’m just saying that because his size is obviously a factor.

“The best guy in the division, I feel, is [Stephen] Fulton because he’s the most accomplished in the division. He’s a two-time world champ. He’s fought a lot of tough guys, probably the toughest guys than any of the other champions have fought, and he’s proven himself. He’s the best guy in the division.

“100%,” said Carrington when asked if that’s the reason why he’s pushing for a world title fight against WBC champion Fulton. “I want to fight the best, and I’m eager to show the world that I’m the best. I continue to say I’m the best and I’m proving it every time I step in the ring. I just feel it’s my time. It’s the moment and I’m ready to seize it. 2025 is the year.

Ranking the Best

I totally agree with Carrington. Fulton is the #1 fighter in the 126-lb division by far. These are the top guys at featherweight:

1. Stephen Fulton
2. Rafael Espinoza
3. Bruce Carrington: On the cusp of taking the #1 spot
4. Angelo Leo
5. Otabek Kholmatov
6. Nick Ball

“I feel like after this next fight [Enrique Vivas on March 29th], the plan is to fight for a world title. I’m not waiting no more. I’m ready to get it on, and I hope these guys are ready to get the fight on as I am,” said Carrington.