LUKE READY TO CHEW UP BIG APPLE
From plaster to master blaster, Ball hopes hod is on his side in title fight
LUKE LITTLER was at school doing his GCSE exams a year ago – but tonight he takes the Big Apple by storm.
At New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, where images of superstars and A-listers adorn the walls, Luke the Nuke faces Matt Campbell in the bet365 US Darts Masters as a celebrity in his own right.
Littler admits he doesn’t know what to expect from crowds across the pond but he is grateful to be clear of academic drudgery – and earning £600,000 in prize money alone in his first six months as a darts professional at 17 years old.
He said: “I was at school this time last year. I could have gone to college after high school, but I chose not to as I won my PDC Tour Card and obviously got to the World Championship final.
“I could have been in college now, doing some coursework and messing around, but here I am. It’s my first time in New York and I am here to put my name up there with the big names who have performed at Madison Square Garden.”
GOLF
CANADIAN OPEN
FROM plastering with his dad to the pinnacle of the featherweight division, Nick Ball is hoping this time he gets a smooth ride with the judges.
The Liverpool puncher takes on WBA champion Ray Ford this weekend in Saudi Arabia (squaring up, above).
The second shot at a world title comes just a few months after he was harshly denied in his first crack against WBC champion Rey Vargas in the same venue. That ended in a controversial draw.
But Ball, 27, is tough enough to deal with the disappointment and use it as fuel to ensure he’s not left empty-handed again when he faces the much-fancied unbeaten American.
He’s never been a hugelyhyped name and he had to build his reputation slowly on small-hall shows and undercards. Now he’s fighting on the grand stage in Saudi. He puts it down to a hard-work ethic, something he picked up from dad Stan.
While he was trying to impress as an amateur, Ball was put to work by his father, who runs a plastering business. “When I was a teenager I would go along with him to jobs and spend the day working,” he said.
“It looked like that could have been my career at one stage. I would put the mixes on for him and carry the boards up. It was hard graft.
“I would work all day then train at night. Sometimes when I had amateur fights coming up I’d be running in the morning, then work, and then train in the evening. They were long days. It was those days that made me realise that I had to make a ca-reer out of boxing.”
Ball simply had enough one day and packed it in.
A bold move when your dad is the boss. “I actually ran home with my boots on, I was on a job with my dad but I just left and ran home,” he said.
“I told him ‘I’m not doing this anymore, I’m doing boxing.’ That’s when I turned pro and I haven’t looked back since.
“At first he wasn’t happy. He told me I had to finish the day’s work, blah, blah, but now he sees what the bigger picture is. He wasn’t happy that day but he’s certainly made up for me now.”
Now Ball (above) is no longer helping smooth over walls, he’s busy taking down all-comers.
His short but stocky frame and his style has led to comparisons with his idol Mike Tyson.
“I used to watch a lot of him,” ahe said. “The way he carries himself, I can see similarities. That’s mad really because it’s Mike Tyson. He’s a legend.”
A five-fight knockout streak from 2021 to 2023 captured the interest of promoter Frank Warren.
Then a win over former world champion Isaac Dogboe secured the world title shot against Vargas, a fight which added a draw to his 19 wins. But it is why Warren didn’t hesitate to ensure Ball was part of his Queensberry team for a 5v5 event against Matchroom this weekend.
“I wouldn’t be here without Frank,” Ball added.
Ford (left) is 4-6 favourite for the fight, with Ball 11-8.
Watch ‘5 vs 5: Queensberry vs Matchroom’ live from Riyadh on TNT Sports Box Office from 7pm on Saturday. For more info: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
Ball is ready to make a name for himself in Riyadh