Sam Goodman’s (20-0) world title opponent has revealed his plans to defeat the Aussie before charting a course towards Naoya Inoue.
Goodman was twice booked to face the Japanese superstar, with all the belts at super bantamweight on the line.
Cuts suffered in sparring days out from the fight saw it postponed, and ultimately cancelled, costing Goodman a million-dollar payday and a chance to become undisputed world champion.
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With the scrapped Inoue fight seeing him shunted back in the queue, the 26-year-old from Albion Park accepted a call to move up in weight and challenge Nick Ball (22-0-1) for his WBA featherweight strap.
Now, the Englishman dubbed “Mini Mike Tyson” for his all-action, pee-ka-boo style, is out to become the first man to defeat Inoue.
“Everyone wants it to happen, don’t they? Everyone’s speaking about it, everyone’s asking me about it,” Ball said when asked by iFL TV about the possibility of a showdown with the 122-pound “Monster”.
“That is the fight that everyone wants to happen.
“Of course I am [the one to beat him], definitely. I wouldn't say easily… but he’s been hurt off lesser people than me and once he’s got up, they’ve sort of been shocked when he’s got up and went on the back foot themselves, whereas I wouldn’t do that.
“I’d be full on him for the 12 rounds, however many it’d go.
“Even Turki [Alalshikh] himself, he says he wants it to happen.”
Before that, Ball must get past Goodman, who returned to the ring following a frustrating 10-month absence in May with a win over Cesar Vaca.
Coincidentally, Ball's gymmate and regular training partner, Brad Strand, is the man who first cut Goodman prior to the Inoue fight, leading to the extended break.
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Liverpool’s Ball, 28, is confident he’ll have the tools to defeat the Australian.
“He’s going to be coming with everything. He’s unbeaten, wants to become world champion, wants to take my number one spot, wants to take what I’ve worked so hard to get and I know how hard it is to get so I know how he’s feeling, but this is not up for taking, this is my life, so you’re gonna have to kill me to take it from me,” Ball said.
“It’s going to be the best version of Nick Ball in there, so that’s going to be enough to beat him, however the fight goes.
“Just a sharp, explosive performance by myself, that’s what I feel is coming.”
How to watch Nick Ball vs. Sam Goodman in Australia: TV channel, live stream
The Whyte vs. Itauma card is a pay-per-view event.
In Australia, fans can tune in through Foxtel's Main Event, or via Kayo PPV, for $49.95.
Click here to buy Whyte vs. Itauma / Ball vs. Goodman on Kayo
Alternatively, streaming platform DAZN will also broadcast the bout in Australia, also for $49.95.
Dillian Whyte vs. Moses Itauma full card
- Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte; heavyweight
- Nick Ball (C) vs Sam Goodman for the WBA featherweight title
- Ray Ford vs Abraham Nova; super featherweight
- Filip Hrgovic vs David Adeleye; heavyweight
- Hayato Tsutsumi vs Qais Ashfaq; super featherweight