‘Let’s make it happen and find out’: Ball challenges Inoue to move to featherweight

Nick Ball and Naoya Inoue are circling one another for a possible 2026 fight.

Naoya Inoue and Nick Ball seem like natural opponents for a fight if Inoue moves up to featherweight in 2026, and the two are throwing some fuel on that fire after Ball’s win over TJ Doheny on Saturday.

Ball (22-0-1, 13 KO) retained his WBA featherweight title via stoppage after the 10th round, and at one point in the fight did throw a kick at Doheny. He was also later penalized a point for throwing Doheny to the canvas.

In short, with the aggressive action and roughhouse tactics, it wound up a typical Nick Ball fight, love it or hate it.

Inoue watched the fight and said on social media, “That Ball is funny, but don’t kick!” to which Ball replied, “When you’re ready to kick it at 126 lbs, let me know.”

The back-and-forth continued, with Inoue saying, “Two fists are enough for me,” and Ball responding, “Let’s make it happen and find out then.”

Inoue ended the exchange — for now — with, “Until that day comes, let’s increase each other’s value.”

A very business-like approach from “The Monster,” who returns to action on Sunday, May 4, defending his undisputed super bantamweight championship against Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas. It will be Inoue’s first fight outside of Japan since his 2021 win in Vegas over Michael Dasmarinas.

It’s also expected that Inoue (29-0, 26 KO) will defend against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, likely in Saudi Arabia, later this year, if he beats Cardenas as expected.

Though Inoue is actually the taller man at a listed 5’5”, with Ball listed at 5’2” or 5’3” depending on the day, it’s Ball who has spent his career at the higher weight, as Inoue has won world titles at 108, 115, 118, and 122, with Ball actually starting at 130/135 before settling in at 126 starting in 2022.