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Nick Ball set to push for unification clash after missing out on Naoya Inoue mega-fight
Nick Ball’s trainer has revealed that his fighter will take a well-earned rest over Christmas, but will be back in early 2026 and looking for a featherweight unification fight.
Paul Stevenson has specifically targeted the IBF champion Angelo Leo, who only acquired his title last year and has defended it once.
Stevenson told The Ring: “Personally, I’d like that Angelo Leo fight, a unification.
“It’d be great and just what he needs, really. Another challenge. A big fight and cement his legacy because a lot of people complain about the level of opposition."
Ball has been in five world title fights in the last 18 months, including three title defences since becoming champion, and Stevenson begged a comparison to the other champions in the division to contextualise Ball’s commitment to staying active.
He said: “Compare them to the other featherweight champions. Have a look, check BoxRec.
“Nick’s been very active, busy and keeping it going. I think Angelo Leo’s had one defence. [WBO champion] Rafael Espinoza’s had three. Very average opponents, both of them. Nick’s just keeping busy, doing sound.
Ball is coming off one of the biggest tests of his career against Australian contender Sam Goodman.
He claimed a unanimous decision, but Goodman pushed Ball all the way and made every round competitive – forcing Ball to find another gear to get the win.
Stevenson acknowledged that Ball’s latest win was not his best, but believes Goodman will go on to prove he is a top-level featherweight.
Stevenson said: “He [Ball] probably feels it wasn’t his best performance. Goodman done a decent job of making it tricky.
“He was tough. It was just tricky for Nick to pin him down the way we wanted to.
“But as I say, Goodman is good and he’ll probably go on to prove that again in his next few fights.”
Goodman made the move up to featherweight to challenge Ball after missing out on a fight he had scheduled with the undisputed super bantamweight champion, Naoya Inoue, through injury.
A fight between Ball and Inoue has also been mooted, but the Japanese superstar is now set to defend his titles in December before facing fellow pound-for-pound great Junto Nakatani in 2026. Stevenson doesn't want his fighter to stand still after missing out on a mega-fight with Inoue, and believes getting a chance to unify the 126lb division will give Ball the motivation he needs to kick on.
He said: “Obviously, Inoue is doing different things now. We were hoping for him but he’s not the be-all and end-all. There’s other fights out there, so a unification would be great for Nick."
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