'Went cold!' - Frank Warren still hopeful for Nick Ball-Naoya Inoue dance before Brandon Figueroa test

The Liverpool fighter defends his WBA featherweight title against Brandon Figueroa tonight at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena, live on DAZN.

Ball has long been linked to a clash with undisputed super-bantamweight star Inoue, dating back to his unsuccessful bout with Rey Vargas.

Then, the star was held to a draw in his title challenge, but promoter Warren remains hopeful a bout can be made while reflecting on the past.

The Ring

"I love that Inoue fight, I really do," Warren told The Ring. "They talked about it, they were all up for it and suddenly, as you say, it went cold.

"[But] really, he should be unified champion. He got robbed [against Vargas] when they gave a draw, but that's the name of the game.

"Hopefully this fight will show the world what he's all about. He's in with a very good fighter. It's not hand-picked, it's a mandatory."

"They've both got tremendous workrates. You know it's going to be all-action. I know face-offs are theatre but neither wanted to blink."

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