Brandon Figueroa arrests WBA featherweight crown from Nick Ball with dramatic final round tko.

Texan Brandon Figueroa certainly lived up to his heartbreaker nickname by hijacking Nick Ball’s 4th WBA featherweight title defence in the Liverpool mans back yard with a 12th round tko in a fight that was edging in the home fighters favour. The tenacious Ball 23-1-0 (13 Ko’s) started fast but found it tough negating the taller man’s long range counter punching, neither man found a significant breakthrough going into the middle rounds however the American import started to find a comfortable rhythm in an even fight. Entering the final stanza Figueroa, instructed by trainer Manny Robles came out assertive with no intention of leaving anything to chance and within 12 seconds of the round landed a perfect counter left hook that dropped the champion heavily. Ball managed to beat the count, but the final barraged left him down for a second time and in no fit condition to recover, leaving referee Steve Grey with no option but to call a halt. The classy Figueroa appeared the more superior fighter going into the championship rounds with the relatively raw defending champion losing his composure under pressure. The 29 year old Figueroa 27-2-1 (20 Ko’s) leaves the Uk as the new WBA champion with lots of option open to him as a very marketable fighter. 

NB: Unfortunately some disappointing scenes arose following the bout where a number of undesirable spectators attempted to soak the newly crowned visiting fighter with alcohol.