IVER-based heavyweight prospect Naylor Ball shows no sign of slowing down after agreeing to fight at the Tolworth Recreation Centre on April 15, writes Tom Sables.

The fighter will appear for only the second time as a professional, having impressed with a first-round stoppage on his February debut.

Ahead of the event in Surrey, Ball spoke to The Observer during preparations, which now include sparring sessions with Tyson Fury.

Few adjustments have been made to the training camp schedule that earned Ball a convincing victory on his professional debut.

“Why fix something that isn’t broken, after all?” Ball told the Observer. “The real effort being made now is to gain ring experience.

“That’s the main reason behind taking this next fight, and it’s for this reason also that we’ve upped the sparring massively.”

As well as staying as active as possible, the fighter is now training more competitively. In fact, the heat has been turned up about as far as one could possibly manage.

Ball said: “We went to spar with Hughie Fury ahead of his upcoming title shot, and I also got in the ring with Tyson Fury.

“Just to be able to train with a world champion is a massive achievement for me.”

The feedback Ball received from the Fury camp was overwhelming: “They liked my style and my ability I cope under pressure, even though I’m a pressure fighter. They welcomed me back any time.”

Whilst Iver’s young talent will certainly look to follow up on the offer, trading blows with boxing’s elite seems to have had the desired effect.

There is a developed maturity in the 19 year-old’s approach to April 15th, when he walks underneath the hot lights once more.

Ball said: “I won’t rush in for the same result as last time, looking for the knockout. But if it comes it comes!”