Ball happy with the hard way
Jamie Ball is adamant he wants his opponents harder and harder fight by fight - so he can handle the big guns when they come his way.
Coseley's Jamie Ball is adamant he wants his opponents harder and harder fight by fight - so he can handle the big guns when they come his way.
Worcester's Steve Cooper is the next obstacle in the way of the fledging welterweight in fight four of his professional career, another experienced foe who gave Halesowen's Kevin McAuley a real run for his money in July.
The two collide on the undercard of the 'Crunchtime at Lunchtime' at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on November 9 and it could be a long afternoon for both, Cooper noted for his endurance and Ball with the flashy fast feet.
The two contrasting styles should make for an interesting slug fest - and Ball is glad to have it the hard way.
He said: "When you move up the ranks, if you have not been tested you will get found out. Amir Khan is a good example of that. When he came against someone who could really go, down he went.
"That is why I want my opponents to get tougher. I will take every hard knock there is, absorb it, learn from it and come back a better fighter. That is the way to learn."
Ball found himself tested when taking on Ernie Smith in his last bout at the Civic last month. The 'Gypsy Boy' from Stourport had certainly come to fight in his 149th professional fight and he let his opponent know about it.
Yet the 24-year-old rallied and was declared the victor at the final bell. He also emerged somewhat wiser.
Ball said: "I had a tough night against Ernie. He was well hyped up for it and came to knock me out. But he couldn't get the job done. The way I managed to handle him was a learnng experience.
"The fights have become harder and harder and I have become harder and harder with it. That is the only way i will be getter. Taking each fight as it comes."
