IBF featherweight titlist Angelo Leo is prepared for dirty tactics from Nick Ball should a unification between them ever occur.

Leo is currently preparing for the first defense of his title after winning the belt with a sensational one-punch knockout over then-champion Luis Alberto Lopez in August. Leo will take on Tomoki Kameda in Okawa, Japan, on May 24.

Another featherweight champion who recently defended his belt is the WBA titleholder Ball. During the champion’s second defense of his title against Irish veteran TJ Doheny, in which he stopped Doheny after 10 rounds, Ball controversially kicked out at the Irishman.

Prior to the kick, Doheny had placed Ball in a headlock at the sound of the bell following Round 1, which angered the typically fiery champion. Ball then forced his head free and retaliated by kicking Doheny in the back of the leg as the Irishman was returning to his corner.

Doheny tried to make the most of the incident, flinging himself to the floor in a hope of getting Ball disqualified for his conduct. Doheny’s attempt was to no avail, and the referee Michael Alexander let Ball off with a warning, but did deduct a point later in the contest for Ball throwing Doheny to the ground.

Many fans online believed that Ball should have been disqualified for striking Doheny with his foot, but Leo disagrees.

“Oh man, I didn't see the fight but I did see the highlights of that kick, it's a little unsportsmanlike,” Leo told BoxingScene. “I feel like maybe he's frustrated and he was taking it out in a different way, but that's... I think it was just a little bit of frustration, that's all.

“[He should have got] for the kick, maybe a hard warning, maybe a point taken away, but I don't think disqualified.”

After the first defense of his title in May, Leo will look to unify the division, with Ball a potential opponent. Leo is prepared for Ball’s rough tactics and has a plan in place should they ever square off against each other.

“Yeah, well first things first is we've got to warn the referee about all those antics and let him know beforehand all the things he does” he said. “Then if he continues to do it in the fight, then I'll have to get dirty myself, you know.”

Regardless of Ball’s recent antics, Leo has full respect for the current WBA titleholder and would love the chance to test himself against Ball.

“That's a great fight, I like that fight a lot, I know Nick Ball, he always comes to fight, you know, he puts the pressure and he throws a lot of punches,” said Leo. “I throw a lot of punches, so I think the fans are going to go crazy for that one.”