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Kendrick Ball Jr. Comes 'Home' To
Bally’s Lincoln Casino Resort Sept. 26
Kendrick Ball Jr. (23-2-3, 13 KOs) returns to the venue
where he has created so many memories on Saturday, September
26 when he takes on Argentina’s Job "The Archangel" Herrera
(13-5-1, 6 KOs) at Bally's Lincoln Casino Resort.
The bout is the co-main event of CES Boxing’s Fight Night in
America, an exciting card that also features a Dominican
Olympian and several of the best prospects in Rhode Island.
For the light heavyweight contender from Worcester, MA, the
road to a career-defining fight leads back to where his
professional career began.
"This is where I turned pro," recalls Ball. "I’d say this is
like my first home, so I’m really excited to be back. I
haven’t fought there in years."
Few fighters are as familiar with Bally’s Event Center as
Kendrick Ball. September 26 marks the twelfth time that he
fights at the venue where he has compiled an impressive
10-0-1 record with 7 knockouts.
Now a veteran of 28 professional bouts, the 33-year-old
returns to the place where his professional career began for
one more run in the hopes of landing a career-defining fight
and earning the life-changing payday that has eluded him
throughout his career.
"My goal in boxing is to get a big-money fight," admits Ball
Jr. "I’m 23-2-3. I have a good record, and I feel like I’m
long overdue. I just need that opportunity presented to me,
and when it is, I’m not going to turn it down. I’ll fight
any of the top guys."
Ball was introduced to boxing at a young age by his father
and longtime trainer, Kendrick Ball Sr. However, while
Kendrick Jr. trained and sparred at his local Boys & Girls
Club for years, he did not begin competing until he was in
high school. After an estimated 30 amateur bouts, Ball
turned professional with CES Boxing in 2016.
Despite the limited amateur experience, Ball quickly
developed into one of New England’s top super middleweights,
winning the vacant WBC US Silver Super Middleweight
Championship in 2021 against battle-tested Contender Series
veteran Brian Vera.
With the success, Ball became part of a resurgence alongside
the likes of former two-division world champion Jose Antonio
"El Gallo" Rivera and world title challengers Edwin "La
Bomba" Rodriguez and Jamaine "The Technician" Ortiz that
helped establish Worcester as one of New England’s hottest
boxing cities.
While Ball was initially active after the Vera victory,
winning six fights and fighting to one draw from 2021 to
2023, he has fought just once a year since 2024.
"At the time I was signed with CES, so they were always
keeping me busy," reflects Ball. "When we ended up going our
separate ways, my activity died down because locally, they
make you cover everything when you get on shows, and it’s
expensive. Then my grandmother passed away, and I ended up
taking a little over a year off."
Despite the challenges and hardships, Ball never completely
walked away from boxing. The Worcester native returned in
December of last year, winning a shutout 6-round decision
over Norberto Gonzalez.
However, the economic realities of the sport required Ball
to supplement his boxing career with a full-time job.
"I merchandise beer and do point-of-sale work," says Ball.
"I’m at work by 7 a.m. and I get out around 4:30, 5 p.m.
Then I go straight to the gym."
His "night shift" consists of grueling training under the
tutelage of his father and Edwin Rodriguez, who serves as
Ball’s assistant trainer as he prepares for Herrera, a
grizzled Argentine veteran who has shared the ring with
former middleweight world champion Vincenzo Gualtieri.
"He’s definitely going to try to come forward because he’s
the smaller guy," says Ball of Herrera, who is moving up
from super middleweight for this bout. "I’ve got to stay on
the outside and use my reach."
Ball acknowledges that Herrera is a tough fighter with
world-class experience, but he believes that he has the edge
in both strength and boxing ability.
"I don’t take anybody lightly, so I’m going in there to get
the job done," says Ball. "I just feel like I’m going to
frustrate him, and if I can end it early, that’s what I’m
looking to do."
At this stage of his career, Ball isn't interested in
padding his record or chasing belts simply for the sake of
collecting hardware. He wants the opportunity to test
himself against one of the division’s biggest names – and
finally be compensated for the years he has invested in the
sport.
"The Archangel" Herrera stands in the way of those goals,
which is why Ball is fully focused on taking care of
business on September 26.
"My birthday is on September 17, but I can’t celebrate it,"
laughs Ball. "I'm going to celebrate it on fight night. I’m
looking to give myself a big birthday gift. It’s going to be
a good night, and hopefully we get a big opportunity after
that."
For Kendrick Ball Jr., there is no better place to begin his
run toward that career-changing opportunity than the venue
he affectionately calls 'home'.
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