Jamie (Finally) Ready to have a Ball at the Civic Hall by Tom Podmore Jun 14th 2008

Dudley's Jamie Ball will finally make his paid bow this month. The popular Black Country middleweight was pencilled in to make his professional debut on April 30 only for a query with his brain scan to put that on ice. He was set to go over four rounds with Lance Verallo, the winless but durable West Country-based scrapper, and only found out that he wouldn't be swapping leather with the Welshman two days before. His future looked unsure. That scan indiscretion has finally been resolved, however, and the former Priory Park ABC unpaid performer, who's uncle is former undefeated (16-0) Dudley light-welterweight Shaun Cooper, can now look forward to stepping between the ropes at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on June 20. And Ball, who meets durable Pontefract veteran Peter Dunn over four rounds on the Friday night First Team (Paul (PJ) Rowson and Errol Johnson) card, said: “It was really disappointing to have the fight called off last month but there absolutely nothing we could do about it. You have to adhere to what the board said – and they said there was something wrong with the scan so couldn't box. “I was also really disappointed for all those who wanted to support me,” admitted a talented young middleweight who won 19 of his 28 amateur contests in the vest of the respected Dudley-based amateur club. “I'd had around 300 people asking me for tickets and some of them had to come to the Civic Hall to find out that I wouldn't be boxing on the night.” He was introduced to the crowd on the evening he was supposed to fight, but said: “It wasn't an enjoyable experience when I had to go and tell them all the fight was off, but they understood it was out of my control. Tell the truth, I think they were more concerned about the scan result than the fact I wouldn't be fighting. “I took a few days off after it was clear the paperwork would not come through in time. I needed a bit of time clear my head about the scan showing and not being able to box. I'm raring to get going now. “But I feel so much fitter and stronger than last time I was down to box and can't wait to get in there and get my first win,” added Ball, 23, ahead of his bout with the West Yorkshire centurion. Telford's Mark Lloyd, 10-1 (2) and a former British and International Masters champion at light-middleweight and middleweight, tops the good-looking eight-fight card in the Black Country. Lloyd, returning to action for the first time since a close decision loss to Adnan Amar for the vacant English title in May, meets Newark's AA Lowe, 7-1 (1), for the vacant Midland Area welterweight strap. Stafford light-welterweight Rob Hunt, 9-0 (1), has his hardest test over six-threes, boxing against African banger Alex Brew, 9-4-1 (7), and the bill also includes Wolverhampton foursome Rob Kenney, 6-0-1, Lyndsey Scragg, 5-0 (3), southpaw Russell Colley, 1-0, and returning light-welterweight Steve Saville, 15-4 (6), who boxes Baz Carey. Telford middleweight banger Keiron ‘Slammer' Gray, 1-0 (1), also sees action. Tickets are available from Paul (PJ) Rowson on 07976-283157, Errol Johnson on 07852-268333 or the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on 0870-3207000.

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