Tuesday 14 March 2017 13:14, UK
Jake Ball is determined to put his exciting career back on track after he was taught a "hard lesson" in last year's shock knockout loss to JJ McDonagh.
The 24-year-old light-heavyweight suffered his first professional defeat when he was stopped by McDonagh at Wembley Arena in November, and admits he had become too complacent after seven victories.
But this surprise setback has forced Ball to become mentally stronger as he prepares for his next fight on this Friday's NXTGEN show, live on Sky Sports.
"To be honest with you, we've been more focused on this fight," said Ball. "I'm knuckling down to business when I'm in the gym and I'm taking every opponent seriously.
"Not looking past anyone, not looking through a fight to another fight, just taking it as it comes, one at a time.
We've learned from it massively, improved a lot, and I'm looking forward to Friday and showing everyone the new and improved Jake Ball.
"That was the main reason for my last fight. I take nothing away from JJ McDonagh, he's a good kid, but obviously I had a plan for the following year and I think I was looking past that fight. It's taking your eye off the prize a little bit, not focusing on what is in front of you.
"But it's a hard lesson learned. We've learned from it massively, improved a lot, and I'm looking forward to Friday and showing everyone the new and improved Jake Ball."
Ball had been highlighted as one of the hottest prospects on the domestic scene and insists his confidence was not dented by that defeat to McDonagh.
"No, not at all," said Ball. "If I had gone six or seven rounds, been punched around the ring and then got stopped, it would have been a different story. I would have looked back and thought I couldn't even handle him.
"But I got caught with one of them shots and it couldn't have been helped."
You can watch a live stream of this Friday's NXTGEN show from 7pm on Skysports.com and live coverage starts at 10pm on Sky Sports 1.
