Saturday night in Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena was always going to be electric, but few expected the kind of drama that unfolded as Brandon Figueroa dethroned Nick Ball to claim the WBA featherweight title. Figueroa, the 29-year-old Texan known as "The Heartbreaker," delivered a performance that lived up to his nickname, stopping the previously unbeaten Ball in the 12th round of a contest as tight as any seen in recent years.
Coming into the bout, Nick Ball was riding high, undefeated in 24 professional fights and defending his world title on home soil. The local hero had built a reputation for relentless pressure and grit, and the Liverpool crowd was firmly behind him from the opening bell. But Figueroa, who had traveled across the Atlantic for this challenge, was determined not to let the judges decide his fate. “I wasn’t worried about travelling over to the UK where questions have been asked of the judging of foreign fighters,” Figueroa told BoxingScene earlier in the week. “I didn’t plan on letting the judges have a say in proceedings.”
The opening rounds set the tone for a high-paced, bruising affair. Ball came out aggressively, landing a left uppercut that buckled Figueroa’s legs in the first round and following up with solid right hands. The American, undeterred, pressed forward, pawing with his southpaw jab and firing heavy shots to the body. Despite a significant size advantage, Figueroa chose to fight at close quarters, trading leather with Ball in the pocket rather than relying on his reach.
By the fourth round, the momentum began to shift. Figueroa’s work rate was starting to tell, and Ball was showing signs of damage—a broken nose and swelling around his left eye. The champion’s shots, while sharp, seemed to bounce off the bigger challenger. Still, Ball’s heart was on full display as he battled back, landing eye-catching counters and refusing to yield ground.
The middle rounds were a study in contrasts. Figueroa’s relentless output saw him out-throwing Ball, but the Liverpudlian landed the cleaner, more precise punches, keeping the contest razor-close. The eighth round saw both fighters wobble: Ball was forced onto the ropes, but Figueroa also lost his footing, a reminder of how quickly fortunes could shift. As the rounds wore on, the tension in the arena was palpable. Every jab, every exchange drew gasps from the crowd, who sensed their champion was in for the fight of his life.
Heading into the championship rounds, the bout was still up for grabs. After 11 rounds, two judges had Figueroa ahead (106-103), while the third had Ball leading (107-102). No one in the arena could say with certainty who would emerge victorious—a testament to the competitive nature of the fight. Ball, bloodied but unbowed, tried to up the intensity, but Figueroa remained composed, sticking to his game plan and waiting for his moment.
That moment came just seconds into the 12th and final round. Figueroa, sensing an opening, unleashed a clean left hook that crashed across Ball’s chin, sending the champion to the canvas. The M&S Bank Arena fell silent as Ball struggled to his feet, determination etched on his face. But Figueroa wasn’t finished. Smelling blood, he pressed forward, landing a left-right-left combination that sent Ball tumbling through the ropes. Referee Steve Gray gave Ball every chance to recover, but it was clear the champion could not continue. The fight was waved off just 32 seconds into the round, crowning Figueroa the new WBA featherweight king.
The aftermath was chaotic. The Liverpool faithful, stunned by their hero’s first professional defeat, voiced their displeasure, booing Figueroa’s celebration and hurling objects toward the ring. There were heated exchanges between team members, and security had to intervene to restore order. Despite the ugly scenes, Figueroa was quick to show respect. “I am so excited! I want to thank God and my team and I’m proud to be Mexican-American. I am grateful to the fans here in Liverpool, I am very excited to be champion again. Big shoutout to Nick Ball, he is a great Liverpool champion and one of the best England have ever had. I have nothing but respect for him. I’m sorry [for the celebration], we didn’t mean anything, we were just excited. Sorry about that,” Figueroa said after the fight.
He went on to describe the decisive moment, saying, “I felt I was dominating. Nick wasn’t going anywhere but I caught him with that left hook and I just went out and finished it. I worked really hard in the gym, I have been away from my family for three months. We came out overseas 10 days in advance. Shoutout to the team and my family.”
Figueroa’s victory marks his third world title in two divisions, a testament to his resilience and skill. At 27-2-1 with 20 knockouts, he now sits atop one of boxing’s most competitive weight classes. Ball, meanwhile, drops to 23-1-1 (13 KOs), but his stock remains high after a courageous performance. The Liverpudlian showed tremendous heart, standing toe-to-toe with a bigger, relentless opponent and giving as good as he got for much of the fight. “Nick Ball should be very proud of himself… Taking on a guy that’s seven inches taller is— as the tagline suggested—A Tall Order. Ball was full of heart and industry, I’d LOVE to see a rematch… Over to you, Brandon!!” read one fan’s message, echoing widespread calls for a second bout.
Statistically, the fight was fascinating. Figueroa, known for throwing more than a thousand punches in his previous outings, was outlanded by Ball despite throwing nearly 200 more shots. It was a classic case of quantity versus quality, with Figueroa’s volume eventually wearing down the defending champion. The official cards reflected the close nature of the contest, and many at ringside felt either man could have taken the decision had it gone the distance.
Beyond the main event, the night featured more high-stakes action. Andrew Cain secured a WBC bantamweight title shot by stopping Alejandro Jair Gonzalez in the ninth round, overcoming two knockdowns in the eighth to rally back in spectacular fashion. The result sets up a tantalizing clash with current titlist Takuma Inoue, adding another layer of intrigue to the lower weight classes.
As the dust settles, the British male world champion tally drops to five, with Ball’s defeat marking a changing of the guard. Yet, the hunger for redemption is clear. Ball, still only 29, has options aplenty and remains a force in the division. Figueroa, for his part, hinted at big plans ahead: “I just want to fight in my home town. Let’s unify. I always want the best of the best, but I feel like my fans back home deserve a fight. We’re going to go back to the drawing board, re-assess this fight and get back to work.”
Saturday night in Liverpool will be remembered for its drama, heart, and the emergence of a new champion. For Nick Ball, the journey is far from over. For Brandon Figueroa, the road ahead looks brighter than ever. Boxing fans everywhere will be watching closely to see what comes next.