Nick Ball reveals inspiration behind his lockdown training

Nick Ball enthused by fictional fighter

Unbeaten featherweight, Nick Ball (12-0, 6KOs), 23 from Liverpool, revealed the main inspiration behind his current training routine during lockdown.

The former amateur champion, who has stopped six opponents from his last seven fights, confessed to drawing inspiration from fictional character Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

Trained by Paul Stevenson, Ball said, “I’m training hard still, doing my runs every day, and keeping fit. I’ve been taking my axe with me and chopping wood in a farmers fields by my house! There’s loads of logs there, so I’ve gone back to training old school, Rocky Balboa style!”

The Everton Red Triangle Gym, where Ball usually trains daily, is out of bounds currently for him and his six teammates, who are also undefeated fighters, with 35 victories between them.

Despite the drawbacks, Nick is managing just fine on his own, he assured, “It’s not hard really because it’s our job to train and keep motivated anyway. I love training, so to stay focused… well, there’s nothing to it! Just staying ready and keeping fit, that’s our job, that’s what we should be doing anyway, no matter what happens.”

He added, “This situation will definitely separate the strong from the weak and show who really wants it. You’ve just got to keep going; lockdown is going to end either way, so all that matters is what you’ve been doing during that time. Everyone is going through the same thing, so you’ve just got to carry on doing what you’re doing.”

Nick and his entire team were part of a few fortunate ones to fight already this year, unlike a large percentage of the rest of the active professional fighters in the UK.

On February 28, at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool, the entire stable trained by Paul Stevenson all fought on the Black Flash Promotions event, each adding another victory to their perfect records.

“I’m glad I got a fight in this year because I know some people haven’t, so it’s hard for them,” he accepted. “I’m made up that I managed to get one in, even just to have one more before the end of the year I’ll be happy with.”

It’s not only an anxious time for health right now, but also financially as most businesses are left inoperative. There’s hope around the corner that normal life may be gradually reintroduced in the coming weeks, but Nick remains positive and headstrong whilst that’s pending.

“Financially, it’s probably affecting everyone, and not just in boxing. It’s definitely affecting me because if you don’t fight, you don’t get paid! I’m very lucky to have good sponsors supporting me through this lockdown and I can’t thank them enough.

“Just got to deal with it, keep at it, we’ll all get there in the end. Some people could feel sorry for themselves and just fall off, but you’ve just got to keep at it and carry on.”

Any sporting events in the aftermath of the pandemic will be liable to many restrictions and hygiene stipulations, which could affect the attendance levels and, ultimately, profitability and success of the shows.

“I think everything is going to change after this; the whole world will, not in massive way, but I think people will go about their life just a bit different from now on. Everything has got be clean and hygienic, hopefully we have been made to appreciate the more important things in life.

“Everyone is bound to be paranoid to start with when it comes to boxing events. When lockdown gets lifted, people will be worried that this virus is still around or will come back again. I think at the start it will be harder to sell tickets, but it could go two ways, and everyone might want to get straight back out to watch boxing after missing out on it for so long.

“For me, I just want to get a fight date as soon as possible. I only need two to three weeks notice and I’m ready; I could even fight now! I’ve been training hard every day, so I want to fight straight away. I’m signed with Frank Warren now, so I’m ready but all I need is a date.”

Nick would like to thank his sponsors: The Glenbuck Hotel; NRG Corporation; Hanover Wealth Management; Primary Fluid Power; Master Prep; Taskers Sports.

Everton Red Triangle Gym, in association with Black Flash Promotions, plan their entire year’s events ahead. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and subsequent ban on all boxing events under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC, May’s event was cancelled. The remaining planned dates are July 4; September 5; and November 14.

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