LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Nick Ball’s promoter, Frank Warren, insists that Nick Ball will not sit and wait for Naoya Inoue to move up to featherweight.

Ball successfully defended his WBA title against TJ Doheny on Saturday night at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, when stopping the veteran Irishman in 10 rounds. Their fight marked the end of the relationship between Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and the broadcaster TNT Sports.

“Well first of all I'm delighted with the night because obviously it's our last night, our last fight on TNT Sport and we went out with a bang,” said Warren. “The venue was alive; there were lots and lots of people here, they all enjoyed it, and Nick done the business, as he always does.”

Warren had recently hailed Ball the best fighter in Britain, and the 28-year-old’s performance didn't disappoint his promoter.

“As far as champions are concerned it's out of him and Daniel Dubois [incidentally also promoted by Warren] – they both put tremendous performances in, but Nick's just going from strength to strength,” he said. “He's a fabulous fighter, in with a real tough guy in TJ [Doheny] who came to fight – real rugged, strong guy – and broke him down, over the rounds he was breaking him down, catching him with good shots and done a fantastic job.”

Before the contest, speculation regarding a bout with Ball and the undisputed junior-featherweight champion Naoya Inoue was growing. Warren regardless believes that if that fight is to happen, it won’t be next.

“The talk of that fight, if it happens, would be at the end of this year, maybe next year,” Warren said. “We've got the rest of the year; [Ball] is not sitting on his backside until December that's for sure. There was talk of it taking place in Saudi – we will see.”

Ball is one of four featherweight champions.

“Well he should be holding two belts as we stand now and he's beat two of them – certainly everybody feels he's beat two of them and I think he's the best there,” he said.