Nick Ball Vs. Brandon Figueroa Preview

Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight title against former two-division champion Brandon Figueroa on February 7, as we preview this fight. 

The homecoming defense marks the fourth time Ball has put his title on the line. Since capturing the WBA title from Raymond Ford in June 2024, Ball has been exceptionally active. In 2025 alone, he recorded a clinical 10th-round TKO over the veteran TJ Doheny and dominated Goodman. Meanwhile, Figueroa enters the ring following a dominant unanimous decision win over Joet Gonzalez in July 2025. The victory served as a crucial rebound after a narrow points loss to Stephen Fulton earlier that February.

Pre-Fight

“I can’t wait. It’s going to be a special night, this one. I’ve boxed here twice before as world champion and defended the belts twice. This is the third time. This time feels different. My last fight was in Saudi and I wasn’t too happy with my performance to be honest. To watch it back it was alright but I wasn’t myself in there. But that is what it is, I still got the win. I feel like now, I’m coming back fresh in the new year with a point to prove,” Ball stated

“It’s their will. It’s the look in their eyes. I see that will in their eyes fade every round. That’s what I love; breaking hearts and breaking their will. “But hey, you never count a man out, especially someone that has everything on the line for him. The pressure’s on him and it’s going to be an exciting fight because he’s going to come with it. He’s literally fighting in his city so the pressure’s on him. A lot is riding for him on the line so I’ve just got to go in there and do my job,” Figueroa said

The Approach

Ball’s tactical approach relies on high volume to negate his height disadvantage. Against a taller man like Figueroa, Ball will look to utilize his lateral movement and to close the distance. Once inside, he will likely use hooks and uppercuts to the body, which are difficult for taller fighters to counter. This disrupts Figueroa’s rhythm and forces him to lower his hands, creating openings for Ball to land his power shots.

Despite having the reach to stay on the outside, Figueroa prefers to use his height and 72-inch reach to smother his opponents. His strategy involves leaning his frame onto shorter fighters to drain their energy and using his long arms to loop punches around their guard. As a switch-hitter, Figueroa shifts his lead foot, creating awkward angles that force opponents to reset. Figueroa will likely attempt to “catch and shoot” on the inside by absorbing some of Ball’s initial pressure and immediately firing back.