Liverpudlian's Hometown Title Dream Shattered in Final Round
In a dramatic and unexpected conclusion to a tightly contested bout, Nick Ball suffered a devastating knockout loss in the final round of his WBA featherweight title defence against Brandon Figueroa. The fight, which took place late on Saturday night in Liverpool, saw Ball crash face-first to the canvas after a perfectly-timed short left hook from Figueroa just seconds into the twelfth round.
A Clinical Finish and Controversial Aftermath
Despite beating the count, Ball staggered and was punched through the ropes, prompting the referee to stop the contest after only 32 seconds of the final frame. At the time of the stoppage, the scorecards revealed a split decision in the making, with Figueroa leading on two cards and Ball ahead on the third. The three judges had only unanimously agreed on the winner in three of the completed eleven rounds, highlighting the competitive nature of the encounter.
The aftermath of the fight was marred by ugly exchanges in the ring between the rival teams as Figueroa and his entourage celebrated the victory. The American later apologised for the wild celebrations, explaining, "We were just excited." Figueroa, fighting as the underdog in front of Ball's devoted home crowd, had lost twice previously and was understandably elated with the result.
The Fight Dynamics and Tactical Analysis
Throughout the bout, Ball employed his typical aggressive style, constantly applying pressure and looking to break Figueroa with fast, short combinations despite a significant height disadvantage of approximately six inches. The fight remained poised after six rounds, with neither fighter showing signs of panic or fluster. Figueroa appeared composed under pressure, never looking in danger of collapsing, while Ball's corner maintained a calm demeanour, reflecting his previous success in stopping two of three world-title challengers in the tenth round.
Figueroa, aged 29 and just a year older than Ball, has experienced a rollercoaster career, winning and losing his first world title in 2021, regaining a version in 2023, and losing that featherweight title last year. Both of his defeats came via points decisions against Stephen Fulton. For Ball, this marked his sixth consecutive world-title fight in less than two years, a gruelling schedule that may have contributed to the outcome.
Future Prospects and Harsh Realities
In the immediate aftermath, Figueroa received an invitation to participate in a planned show in Saudi Arabia later this year titled Mexico vs The World. Meanwhile, Ball must now reassess his preparation, tactics, and overall approach following his first loss in 25 professional fights. His promoter, Frank Warren, remains optimistic, stating, "He will be back."
The harsh truth of boxing is that defeats often occur without clear excuses, and Ball's loss serves as a stark reminder of the sport's unpredictability. The key questions now revolve around how he will bounce back from this setback and whether a rematch is in his best interests. Ultimately, it appears Ball was simply caught by a perfect punch at the worst possible moment, a fate that even the very best fighters must occasionally endure.
