His dramatic victory over the previously unbeaten Ball earned Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) the WBA featherweight belt and made the 29-year-old Texan a two-time title holder at 126 pounds.

A close, nip-and tuck-fight seemed to be up for grabs when Figueroa landed a left hook just seconds into the final round.

The shot deposited the hometown favorite face down on the canvas. Although he somehow got to his feet, Figueroa’s followed up and sent Ball (23-1-1, 13 KOs) through the ropes. After a short count, referee Steve Gray stopped the fight.

Team Figueroa’s celebrations drew an angry reaction from Ball’s team but tempers quickly calmed.

Ball got off to an electric start. Boxing as a southpaw, Figueroa offered precious little to stop Ball from walking directly into range. He was momentarily shook by a short right hand and had his head knocked back by a series of uppercuts the first time they found themselves working in a clinch.

At range, Figueroa’s punches were too slow and wide for Ball who was able to dart in and out to land quick hurtful punches but also leap in with lead left hooks over Figueroa’s southpaw jab.

Despite holding a six-inch height advantage over the 5-foot-3 Ball, Figueroa wisely decided to get up close and personal in the third and started to enjoy far more success as he found his rhythm. Ball found it harder to time his attacks with the tall, aggressive Figueroa bearing down on him.

Figueroa began to ramp up the pressure and dig in hooks to Ball’s body. Whenever Figueroa’s attack slowed, the champion was still able to find clean counters as he edged backward, but was having to think about defense more than he has since his June 2024 title-winning effort against Ray Ford.

Nose bloodied, Ball was more active in the seventh and had his best round for some time. He managed to get off his shots before Figueroa but his attacks were coming in ones and two rather than his usual bursts.

Figueroa began rolling forward again in the eighth. He targeted the body more and one thumping right hand echoed around ringside and began closing the distanced unloading before Ball could let his own hands go.

He continued that momentum in the ninth. Figueroa bulled Ball to the ropes time and time again. There were no major scoring shots, but he gave the impression that he was controlling the action.

The pace slowed slightly in the 10th and the extra space between the two suited Ball, who found his timing again and was able to get his punches off. Nothing seemed to trouble Figueroa, but Ball’s punches were the more eye-catching, scoring shots.

In the end, it as Figueroa who landed the most telling punch of the entire contest. The sudden, shocking left that floored Ball sucked the air out of the arena. Figueroa didn’t let his moment pass by and produced a stunning dramatic finish to take the decision out of the judges hands.

Lots of avenues will now open up for the crowd-pleasing Figueroa.