Jamie Ball has been warned that if underestimates Nasser Al Harbi's strength, he does so at his peril.
That's the message from Nasser's dad and trainer Naji as the Midlands pair get ready to cross swords in an hotly-anticipated Birmingham vs Black Country English light-middleweight title eliminator at the Second City's New Bingley Hall on Friday evening [March 16].
Dave Coldwell promotes the good-value seven-fight card and the ten-round bill-topper between a brace of young, hungry and unbeaten Midlanders who are eager to make a dent on the domestic scene has opinion divided.
Though many fancy Al Harbi's skill, quick fists and neat boxing to be too much over the 30-minute distance, there are some who feel that Shaun Cooper-trained Ball, 27 and the Midlands Area champion at 11st, has the edge in power, strength and size.
But Naji, who took over the training responsibilities of his 13-fight unbeaten [one quickly], 22-year-old son from former WBC world champion Richie Woodhall in 2009, doesn't subscribe to that notion. He points out that Nasser, who won the WBC Asia Council Continental welterweight strap in 2010, has boxed bigger men and that he's impressed Matthew Hatton in recent sparring sessions.
Even Coseley southpaw Jamie, 13-0-1 (4), has been vocal in his belief that he'll be too strong, but his opponent's corner have lashed back with a verbal counter. "Ball and his team believe that they'll be able to bully Nasser back on Friday, but that won't be the case," said a confident-sounding Al Harbi Sr.
"Nasser has boxed bigger men known for their strength in the past and even fought an unbeaten light-heavyweight early on as a pro and still won with ease. So if Ball think's he can out-muscle or bully his way to victory then he's in for massive shock.
"We take nothing away from Jamie, who is a decent lad and an honest fighter who won't stop trying, but there are so many ways that my son can win this. If Ball comes to box, he'll be out-boxed; he comes to try and fight and drag it into a toe-to-toe war then he'll be caught with punch after punch.
"Nasser has yet to have moved out of second gear and that'll be illustrated perfectly on the night of the fight. It's going to be a very long night for Ball," he added.
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