AN eleventh-hour change of opponent almost cost Ipswich super-middleweight Henry Bacon his unblemished record but the 25-year-old hung on to gain a draw against Doncaster’s Jason Ball.

Bacon has been supposed to fight Peckham’s unbeaten Diego Burton but when the London fighter had to pull out due to medical irregularities, in stepped Ball - with five defeats out of nine - to try and spoil the party at York Hall.

Cheered on by a vocal following from Ipswich, Bacon began on the front foot against the Yorkshire man but was stopped in his tracks in the second when the 28-year-old floored his opponent with a left-right combination.

A head cut then hindered Ball and Bacon gained some momentum in the third and fourth but struggled to get much joy against a dogged Ball.

“The fellow (Ball) has four wins but three of those were stoppages and he also has a big mixed martial arts background so I knew he was going to be strong and tough,” said Burton.

“But I have to take my opponents as they come and after a shaky start I felt I got in to my rhythm and did enough to win.”

Bacon has eyes on a small hall promotional deal with Saturday night’s match maker, Steve Goodwin, and knows he will have to up his game to keep in the forefront of people’s minds.

However, he declared to use the fight as a learning curve and wants a re-match against Ball, having been tested to the limit.

“I knew Diego Burton would not be able to hurt me, whereas this guy was a big puncher so it was a case of trying to keep away from him a little bit,” said Bacon, who now has three wins and a draw from four professional fights.

“But it is a learning curve for me and I will use the experience as a positive one.

“He knocked me down but it was not a heavy one and I needed a kick up the backside. To be honest and it ended up being a better contest for my supporters to watch than it would have been against Burton.

“As for Ball, I spoke to Steve Spartacus (trainer) straight after the fight and suggested to him the possibility of a re-match.”

Burton is scheduled to fight again in March but has said he wants a bout before then.