(February 3rd) Liverpool, Merseyside, UK’s, Nick “Wrecking Ball” Ball will defend his WBA Featherweight World title against Weslaco, Texas, mandatory challenger Brandon “Heartbreaker” Figueroa on Saturday, February 7th, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.

The 12-round championship bout headlines a Queensberry Promotions card streaming exclusively live on DAZN, marking Ball's fourth defense of the WBA title he captured in June 2024.

The fight pairs undefeated champion, Ball, 23-0-1, 13Ko’s against former two-division world titlist Brandon "The Heartbreaker" Figueroa, 26-2-1, 19Ko’s in one of the most compelling featherweight matchups of the year.

The physical contrast is striking. Ball stands 5'2" (some sources list 5'5") with a 65-inch reach, while Figueroa towers at 5'9" with a 72.5-inch reach—creating a seven-inch reach advantage and significant height differential for the challenger. Despite this, both fighters are known for preferring close-quarters combat, setting up what could be a brutal war of attrition. Ball carries a 57% knockout rate across 146 professional rounds, while Figueroa boasts a 73% KO rate over 186 rounds, demonstrating superior finishing power and experience at the championship level.

Nick “Wrecking” Ball: The Liverpool Pressure Fighter

Born February 28th, 1997, in Kirkby, Liverpool, Ball 28 years old, turned professional in 2017 under trainer Paul Stevenson at the Everton Red Triangle gym. He built a 19-0 record before his controversial draw with WBC champion Rey Vargas in March 2024—a fight many observers believed Ball won.

Undeterred, Ball traveled to Saudi Arabia three months later and captured the WBA featherweight title via split decision over Raymond Ford in June 2024. He has since defended successfully three times:

October 2024: TKO10 victory over Ronny Rios

March 2025: RTD10 stoppage of TJ Doheny

August 2025: W12 Sam Goodman

Ball also holds the WBC Silver featherweight belt and remains unbeaten with a relentless pressure-fighting style that thrives before his passionate Liverpool supporters.

Brandon “Heartbreaker” Figueroa: The Two-Division Champion

Born December 29th, 1996, in Weslaco, Texas, to Mexican parents, the 29 year old, Figueroa comes from boxing royalty as the younger brother of former WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr. He debuted professionally in 2015 and quickly rose through the super bantamweight ranks.

Figueroa's championship resume includes:

WBA Interim Super Bantamweight Champion (2019)

WBA Super Bantamweight Champion (2020)

Unified WBA/WBC Super Bantamweight Champion (2021) after a devastating body-shot knockout of Luis Nery

2021 LMD12 Stephen Fulton

WBC Interim Featherweight Champion 2023 WUD12 Mark Magsayo

Title defense against Jessie Magdaleno 2024, WKO9

Title defense against Stephen Fulton 2025 LUD12

2025 WUD12 over Joet Gonzalez 

Despite his towering frame for the featherweight division, Figueroa earned his "Heartbreaker" nickname fighting on the inside, engaging in phone-booth battles that favor his superior power.

The key centers on the seven-inch reach disparity and contrasting styles that may not actually contrast. Typically, a taller fighter exploits range against a shorter opponent, but Figueroa's preference for inside fighting negates his physical advantages and plays into Ball's wheelhouse.

Ball's home-crowd advantage at the M&S Bank Arena cannot be overstated—his high-pressure, high-volume attack feeds off the Liverpool atmosphere. Figueroa counters with proven championship experience, superior knockout power, and the durability that comes from his Mexican heritage and battle-tested chin.

Ball largely favor to retain his title via decision, citing his momentum, undefeated record, and comfort fighting in Liverpool. However, Figueroa's power presents a legitimate upset threat, and his 73% knockout rate suggests he only needs one clean shot to change the fight's trajectory. Ball, 28, enters as the betting favorite at -360 to -390, implying a 74-77% win probability, while the 29-year-old Figueroa stands at +250 to +285 as the underdog.

The Undercard

Andrew Cain vs. Alejandro Gonzalez - 12rds WBC Bantamweight Eliminator

Jack Turner vs. Juan Carlos Martinez - 10rds Super Flyweight

Brad Strand vs. Ruben Lezama Gonzalez - 10rds (Super Bantamweight

Stephen Clarke vs. Omir Rodriguez - 8 rounds Middleweight

Ball vs Figueroa: Fight Prediction

The February 7 featherweight clash between WBA champion Nick Ball and former unified super bantamweight champion Brandon Figueroa promises an intense battle between two aggressive fighters with contrasting styles and career trajectories.

Ball enters as the favorite to retain his title, with his recent momentum and physical adaptation to 126 pounds appearing optimal. The Liverpool fighter has demonstrated an ability to impose his will through sustained pressure, explosive power shots, and effective ring generalship.

While Figueroa brings the superior résumé—having faced elite opposition including Stephen Fulton and Luis Nery—and possesses exceptional durability, Ball's physical strength at featherweight may prove decisive. The champion's difficulty to out-muscle, combined with his capacity to land eye-catching power punches, should enable him to edge the majority of rounds.

Ball's recent championship defenses, including stoppage victories over TJ Doheny and Ronny Goodman, showcase his conditioning and finishing ability. His pressure-fighting style and ring-cutting skills should neutralize any reach or size advantages Figueroa might possess.

Figueroa's proven power represents a genuine threat, particularly in the early rounds. However, the question remains whether he can maintain distance using his jab and body work throughout the 12-round distance.

A critical phase will be the middle rounds, likely determining the fight's trajectory. If Figueroa cannot establish his jab or utilize effective body work to keep Ball at range during this phase, the relentless pressure could make for a grueling night for the Texas native.

Expect a high-volume, high-paced war with Ball's cleaner power punching offsetting Figueroa's typically higher output. SBB’s call: In another quality vs quantity scoring affair Ball retains his title in a competitive victory a via tight, even controversial decision.

(December 16th) Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa launch press conference live from Liverpool, United Kingdom.

The WBA world featherweight champion Nick Ball will make a fourth defence of his title when he takes on the American mandatory challenger Brandon Figueroa on Saturday February 7 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Since his triumph in seizing the WBA belt from Raymond Ford in June 2024 in Riyadh, the 28-year-old Ball has registered successful defences against Ronny Rios, TJ Doheny and, most recently, Sam Goodman, to retain his unbeaten (23-0-1, 13 KOs) status as champion.

The event on February 7, live and exclusive on DAZN, will see him in world title action for a third time in his home city of Liverpool.

Figueroa, 28 and known as ‘The Heartbreaker’, hails from Weslaco in Texas and holds a professional record of 26-2-1 (19 KOs).

Figueroa already olds the distinction of being a former two-weight world champion, with him winning the WBA world super bantamweight title with victory over Damien Vazquez in 2020, then adding the WBC championship to his title tally with a stoppage of Luis Nery the following year.

He lost his belts via a majority decision to Stephen Fulton before moving up to featherweight and becoming WBC Interim world champion with a decision verdict over Mark Magsayo in 2023. A second points defeat to Fulton came in February, but Figueroa returned to the win column with victory over Joet Gonzalez in July.

“This is a great fight for Liverpool and an extension of our blockbuster beginning to 2026,” said promoter Frank Warren.

“We are so proud of Nick and what he has accomplished and this is a glamour fight, against a recognised American talent, that he fully deserves to have in his home city.

“Figueroa represents a genuine threat, but we believe Nick has the beating of everyone in the division and he will prove this over time.

“Boxing is booming in Liverpool again and we are thrilled to be at the spearhead of this with Nick as the driving force. He delivers a perfect platform for all our other local contenders to showcase themselves on world title cards.”

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Queensberry, time and time again, delivers a debut to a champion journey for richly talented young fighters and provides an unrivalled platform for them to showcase their ability to the widest possible audience via a major broadcast collaboration and an exceptional digital portfolio.

Fight promotions are regularly staged, servicing the requirements of novice prospects, contenders, title challengers and champions. Boxers are given every opportunity to build a following and maximize their potential.

The wall facing the entrance to the Queensberry headquarters bears the words ‘This is where the magic happens’ because, for decades, it has been the location where the biggest fights have been hatched and matched, where the biggest shows have been plotted and where the best fighters arrive to sign promotional terms for Frank Warren to guide their careers.

It is always about the fighters - with the key being development - but also about the sport, the business of boxing and conjuring up magical nights for the fans and making the fights they want to see.

The experience of Queensberry and the tried and trusted model for creating champions is unparalleled in the sport of boxing. The expertise of International Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren has been employed for some 45 years in the professional ranks building some of the biggest stars and navigating them to world champion status.

Frank specializes in taking young fighters right from debut and implementing his knowhow to pick the right fights at the right time and therefore ensuring the boxer is given every opportunity to maximize his or her potential.

Queensberry is currently in the position of being the world’s premier promotional organization, having spent many years building talent and putting in the foundations to ensure prolonged success. The company currently boasts a number of world champions, multiple world title contenders, numerous title-holders and the finest crop of young future stars anywhere in the world.

Queensberry fighters have been given the opportunity to shine on the major global stage both at home and abroad, under the Queensberry banner.

About Frank Warren

In an era spanning over 35 years, Hall of Fame boxing Promoter and Manager Frank Warren has worked with some of the biggest fighters in boxing history. Hamed, Bruno, Tyson, Calzaghe, Benn, Collins, Eubank, Khan and Hatton are some of the iconic names he has promoted during his career.