Figueroa (27-3-1, 20 KOs), a former unified junior featherweight champion, had never before boxed outside of the United States as a professional, but seemed perfectly at home from Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.

The Ring's No. 7-ranked featherweight quickly worked out how to impose his all-action, relentless style on the usually aggressive Ball (23-1-1, 13 KOs) and enjoyed prolonged periods of success throughout a hard-fought battle.

Figueroa didn't know it at the time, but two of the three ringside judges had him three points clear going into the final round. The stunning left hook which briefly left Ball face down on the canvas all but sealed his victory, though the follow up attack sending the hometown favorite through the ropes rendered those scorecards null and void.

After the fight, the 29-year-old Texan told The Ring just how much his victory meant.

"I feel like it’s amazing. We came all the way here to Liverpool, we crossed the seas," Figueroa said. "They were not going to give us nothing. We were fighting in his backyard, all odds against us, but we finished strong and I feel like we dominated."

"Anyone that says otherwise, I don't know, but we came out here, I showcased my love and my talent for the sport and we left as a champion."

The previous Saturday night, Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington (17-0, 10 KOs) won the vacant WBC featherweight title by knocking out Carlos Castro on "The Ring 6" card at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Within moments of Figueroa having his hand raised, Carrington, The Ring’s sixth-ranked featherweight, called for a unification fight with the newly crowned champion.

"Wow!! Let's get it then Figgy," Carrington posted on X before quickly following up with, "Shu Shu vs. Figueroa 2026."

Figueroa will want to spend some time relaxing and enjoying his latest success before thinking about getting back in the ring, but welcomed the challenge.

"Of course, I'm not scared of no-one," he said. "That's one thing about me, so that fight's going to happen. [I'll fight] against all the champions, I don't care. I want to go back home, enjoy my family, time off and get back to the drawing board. I'll hopefully bring a fight back home and then let's unify."