Boxing: Naylor Ball earns a pro deal with Frank Warren and Queensbury Promotions

Family and friends organised a surprise party to follow the Iver Heath star’s meeting with famous promoter Warren.

To the relief of the venue, the six-foot six-inch, 17-stone heavyweight was not quite startled enough to jump. Instead signs of emotion and gratitude headlined a landmark day for a bitter-sweet family story.

The National Youth champion and British Youth silver medallist has won his fair share of battles to capture the interest of Queensberry.

Ball, 19, is known as hot property on the amateur circuit and, now backed by one of the country’s top promotions, may soon become a recognised name as a professional.

However, not many have witnessed the collaborative effort to keep Ball on his feet outside the ring: “I was six when I lost my dad in a car accident,” Ball told the Observer. “What was left afterwards I didn’t agree with, so I moved in with my grandparents.

“It was Grandad who took me to Slough Boxing Club at the age of 12.”

After two convincing wins for Slough, Ball also represented Dale Youth in London, before his grandfather, Alfie, asked long-term friend Johnny Edwards to further his progress.

The team has never looked back since, but Edwards still remembers the day the super heavyweight first came through his door.

“A massive lad came through the door and I thought, ‘Wow, this could be the next big thing,” he said.

Within 18 months he was England’s National Youth champion, and shortly after became a Great Britain silver medallist.”

The professional coach claims not to have seen a prospect as bright as Ball since another giant, Tyson Fury, competed as a teenager.

Edwards said: “Tyson was about 17 when he had three contests for Guildford City. After a year and a half with Naylor, I believe that he's on the same level, though he is a little different.

"He has a very nice jab and a clean boxing style, but is still yet to develop his full power.

PHOTO: Manager John Edwards, left, with his new super heavy-weight boxing sensation, Naylor Ball, right.

"I took Naylor to spar in Bolton and Tyson's Dad, John Fury, agreed that there would have been no separating the two fighters at this stage.”

It was not long before manager, Joseph Pyle, joined the team and he was impressed by Ball's work ethic.

Pyle commented: "He lives the [boxing] life. I've managed kids that I have had to drag down to the gym. With Naylor, when he's not training himself he is in the gym anyway, helping other kids."

Pyle was eventually able to showcase his fighter to Warren, and the rest is history.

However, many of those waiting to congratulate Naylor had made it clear that the most significant figure in the his journey would be missing.

Difficult circumstances had dictated that Alfie, who sadly died in January this year, had been much more than just a Grandfather to the newly-turned professional.

Ball said: “I never went to a show or to sparring without him. If you saw me you would see him.

"All my family boxed, but he was my guidance, from my first fight until he passed away.

"He never missed a training session and was my number one supporter alongside my Nan [Christine]."

Ball looks set to for a four round bout in November or December, and will feature on televised BoxNation cards next to world class fighters.

The plan to skip past the usual route and target world honours as soon as possible is bold, and Pyle acknowledged there is work to be done.

He explained: "Naylor will be earning his apprenticeship; building his reputation, and getting wins and moving up the rankings. Then, after 18 months, we're looking at titles.”

Entering the professional ranks offers new challenges outside of the ring, and Pyle believes Ball can be marketable.

He said: "He is going to have to fight outside the ring now as well as inside it. That's where I come in, going down the routes of sponsorship.

"For the fighter, playtime is over. He should have six fights a year, maybe even eight.'"