On Monday, five of boxing's worst kept secrets were finally revealed as the brackets for the Queensbury vs Matchroom '5 on 5' show were officially announced.
Matchroom's WBA 126-pound champion Ray Ford (15-0-1 (8 KOs)) and Queensbury's favorite Nick Ball (19) are among the matches to be played in Saudi Arabia on June 1st. Nothing is more divisive than a featherweight fight. -0-1 (11 KOs).
While the promotional fights and team aspects of the entire event give fans an extra reason to attend the show, boxing is an individual sport and the best way a fighter can contribute to their team's victory is to Just focus on yourself.
Once the final interviews are over and the final pre-game promo is filmed, the teammates are unlikely to see eye to eye with each other until the plane lands in Saudi Arabia at the end of May.
Some of boxing's biggest stars were clearly enjoying the showbiz element of Monday's grand unveiling, but for no-nonsense Liverpudlian Nick Ball, it was a full day of business travel. It wasn't too much.
The aggressive Ball was forced to settle for a controversial split draw after trying to strip Rey Vargas of the WBC featherweight title last month, and the 27-year-old said his WBA title fight with Ford was a career I know this is a pivotal moment. After a full day of media work with his new team, Ball began running late and alone through the streets of London.
“Anything I'm involved in, I want to win. I always want to win and I feel like I'm part of a winning team. That's huge, right? The whole world is watching. “So it's important to be involved with the boss, but don't let that take your focus away from the important game,” Ball told Queensberry. “This is all good and all, but I'm totally focused on the game and making sure that we actually win the game – I know we will win – so I'm just focusing on myself and making sure that every day I’m working hard all day long.”
Just a week before the Ball-Vargas draw on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's win over Francis Ngannou, Ford clinched his own world title with a thrilling late stoppage of Otbek Khormatov. The New Jersey native was trailing on the scorecards, but finally defeated undefeated Uzbekistan with just seven seconds left in the game.
Tall and experienced, Vargas had unique problems, but his compact ball had spent his entire career battling players of Ford's stature, as well as quality southpaw Peter McGrail and mean switch hitters. He spends his days training with Andrew Kane. This is the case as usual for Ball, who knows exactly what to expect from the whole Saudi experience.
“I'm going to prepare the same way I always have. Nothing will change just because the opponent is different or whatever you want to call it. I'm going to focus on being the best version of myself, working hard in the gym, and working hard. I just keep doing what got me here,” he said.
“I saw the highlights. [Ford’s victory over Kholmatov]well, the first five rounds. [It was a] He put up a good fight and turned things around, didn't he? He did his job and is now world champion. ”
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn recently named Ball as the Queensberry fighter he most wants to promote. Even if the ball was flattering, he hid it well.
“That's good. I feel like my style is appropriately fan-friendly, and I'm always going to come in and bring the action and bring the fight, so when you watch me, you're in for a treat.” You won't be bored.”
