Liverpool, England – Brandon Figueroa delivered a stunning upset Saturday night, stopping Nick Ball in the 12th round to claim the WBA featherweight title at the M&S Bank Arena. The victory marked Figueroa’s second world championship, silencing a raucous home crowd and setting the stage for potential unification bouts.
The fight was a compelling clash of styles, with Ball, the defending champion, employing his usual aggressive, inside-fighting tactics. Figueroa, known for his relentless pressure and body work, gradually imposed his will as the fight progressed. After eleven closely contested rounds, the fight dramatically shifted in the final moments.
Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) landed a perfectly timed left hook early in the 12th round, sending Ball (23-1-1, 13 KOs) crashing to the canvas. Though Ball bravely rose to beat the count, he appeared unsteady, and Figueroa quickly capitalized. A sustained flurry of punches forced referee Steve Gray to intervene, stopping the contest 32 seconds into the round with Ball partially through the ropes.
“I felt like I was dominating,” Figueroa told DAZN after the fight. “I caught him with a short left hook and then went out there and finished it.” He also expressed gratitude for his team and a desire to fight in front of his home fans, adding, “I want to unify.”
The victory is a significant rebound for Figueroa, who had previously lost world title opportunities at both featherweight and junior featherweight. He lost a unanimous decision to Stephen Fulton in a rematch in 2023, following a prior loss to Fulton at junior featherweight in 2021. This win establishes him as a force to be reckoned with in the 126-pound division.
Ball, who had been enjoying a successful run as champion, suffered the first defeat of his professional career. He had previously gone 24 fights unbeaten, with one draw, since turning professional. The loss derails potential unification plans for the British fighter, who had been aiming to establish himself as the division’s top name.
The early rounds saw Ball attempting to utilize his size and strength to bully Figueroa, landing several uppercuts and combinations at close range. However, Figueroa effectively countered with jabs and straight right hands, and began to target the body, slowing Ball’s relentless forward pressure.
As the fight wore on, Figueroa’s consistent output and body shots began to take their toll. He increasingly forced Ball onto the back foot, and the scorecards appeared to be tightening. The fighters touched gloves at the start of the 12th, a gesture of respect before a final, decisive round.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric throughout the fight, with Ball enjoying overwhelming support from the Liverpool crowd. However, the sudden and dramatic finish left the fans stunned and led to brief, unruly scenes as objects were thrown towards the ring following the stoppage. Figueroa later apologized for any perceived disrespect during his celebration, stating that it was simply a reaction to the excitement of the moment.
The result throws the featherweight landscape into flux. Figueroa’s victory opens up possibilities for unification bouts against the other world champions in the division: Rafael Espinoza (WBO), Bruce Carrington (WBC), and Angelo Leo (IBF). His next move will be closely watched as he seeks to cement his position at the top of the 126-pound division.
On the undercard, Jack Turner secured a dominant victory over Juan Carlos Martinez, forcing Martinez’s corner to retire their fighter after three rounds. Andrew Cain also earned a stoppage win over Alejandro Gonzalez in the ninth round of a final eliminator for the WBC bantamweight title. However, the night undoubtedly belonged to Brandon Figueroa, who seized the WBA featherweight title with a spectacular knockout and a statement victory.
