TJ Doheny has criticised the “numpties” who are overlooking him for his world-title challenge against world featherweight champion Nick Ball.
Ireland’s Doheny, 38, will challenge for the WBA title at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Saturday.
Ball, 28, is favourite to defend his title in his home city, as talk of a potential future bout against Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue dominated Thursday’s news conference.
“I don’t think Nick is overlooking me but it’s all these numpties in the boxing media who haven’t a clue about boxing,” former world champion Doheny said.
“He’s a world champion. He’s not silly. He knows he has a hard night’s work ahead of him.”
Doheny is a veteran of 31 fights, with five losses, and held the IBF super-bantamweight world title from 2018 to 2019.
He lost to undisputed super-bantamweight champion Inoue – one of boxing’s pound-for-pound stars – in September after injuring his back in the seventh round.
“Straight back into the top level again, that’s the kind of stuff that motivates you,” Doheny said.
Ball looking to better Inoue win over Doheny
Speaking at Boxpark in Liverpool, promoter Frank Warren said Ball and heavyweight Daniel Dubois – Britain’s only current men’s world champions – are the best fighters in the country.
Ball has won 21 pro fights and drawn one, a contentious points draw to Rey Vargas a year ago.
At 5ft 2in (1.57m), the champion’s explosive style – which he has likened to that of heavyweight Mike Tyson – has earned the nickname ‘Wrecking Ball’.
The Liverpudlian has long been linked with Inoue, nicknamed ‘The Monster’ for his 26 stoppage wins in 29 victories.
Inoue, 31, will defend his undisputed crown against Ramon Cardenas on 4 May in Las Vegas and has welcomed a potential featherweight fight in the future.
But Ball, who earlier this year accused Doheny of quitting against Inoue, refused to speculate about future opponents.
“I’m always looking to do a better job, put a statement performance on. Especially in Liverpool,” he said when asked if he will look to better Inoue’s result against Doheny.
“I don’t care what [Doheny] has done, who has been in with him, what he done in his last fight, it’s all irrelevant.”
“Do what I do best. Get in there and be the best version of me and that will be enough.”
