Nick Ball Retains WBA Featherweight Crown with Dominant Display Against Brandon Figueroa

WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball returned to his hometown of Liverpool on February 7, 2026, to defend his title against former two-weight world champion Brandon Figueroa in front of a raucous crowd at the M&S Bank Arena. The undefeated Ball, sporting a perfect 23-0-1 record with 13 knockouts, faced one of his toughest tests against the experienced Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs), who held world titles in both the super bantamweight and super featherweight divisions.

The fight showcased a fascinating contrast in styles and physical attributes. At just 5-foot-2, Ball gave up a staggering seven inches in height to the 5-foot-9 Figueroa, making this one of the most significant height disparities in a featherweight title fight in recent memory. Despite the reach disadvantage, "The Wrecking Ball" utilized his trademark pressure fighting style, working the body relentlessly and cutting off the ring to neutralize Figueroa's length advantage.

Ball captured the WBA featherweight world title in June 2024 with a controversial split decision victory over Raymond Ford, a win that divided opinion among boxing analysts. This defense against Figueroa represented an opportunity to silence critics and establish himself as a legitimate force in the 126-pound division. The former two-division champion came to Liverpool with the experience and pedigree to dethrone the local hero, having previously held the WBA super bantamweight title and the WBC super featherweight crown.

The bout took place as the main event of a Queensberry Boxing promotion card that featured 12 fights total. Ring walks occurred at approximately 5 PM local time, with the action broadcast live on major networks. The Liverpool crowd created an electric atmosphere, roaring their support for their hometown champion from the opening bell through the final round.

This victory marked another significant milestone in Ball's rapid ascent through the featherweight ranks. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the division's most exciting fighters, combining relentless pressure with genuine knockout power despite his diminutive stature. With this successful defense under his belt, Ball now positions himself for potential unification bouts against other featherweight world champions, with names like Rey Vargas and Luis Alberto Lopez frequently mentioned as future opponents. The performance against a seasoned former two-division champion like Figueroa demonstrated that Ball belongs among the elite at 126 pounds, regardless of his height disadvantage against most opponents in the division.