'Went cold!' - Frank Warren still hopeful for Nick Ball-Naoya Inoue dance before Brandon Figueroa test

Frank Warren hopes Nick Ball can still meet with Naoya Inoue in 2026, revealing that previous interest "went cold" with the Japanese star.

The Liverpool fighter defends his WBA featherweight title against Brandon Figueroa tonight at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena, live on DAZN.

Ball has long been linked to a clash with undisputed super-bantamweight star Inoue, dating back to his unsuccessful bout with Rey Vargas.

Then, the star was held to a draw in his title challenge, but promoter Warren remains hopeful a bout can be made while reflecting on the past.

The Ring

"I love that Inoue fight, I really do," Warren told The Ring. "They talked about it, they were all up for it and suddenly, as you say, it went cold.

"[But] really, he should be unified champion. He got robbed [against Vargas] when they gave a draw, but that's the name of the game.

"Hopefully this fight will show the world what he's all about. He's in with a very good fighter. It's not hand-picked, it's a mandatory."

"They've both got tremendous workrates. You know it's going to be all-action. I know face-offs are theatre but neither wanted to blink."

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