On Saturday night, the 28-year-old Liverpudlian defends his belt against two-weight world champion, Brandon Figueroa.

DAZN will broadcast the action from Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.

Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) made his name as one of the sports most active champions.

Just three months after a controversial draw with WBC title holder, Rey Vargas, Ball became the WBA champion in June of 2024 by outfighting Raymond Ford over twelve exciting rounds. He then returned home to Liverpool and scored consecutive knockouts of Ronny Rios and former IBF junior featherweight champion, T.J Doheny.

Fighting consistently at such a high level inevitably takes its toll and although Ball successfully defended his title against Sam Goodman last August, he looked in need of a break. Rested and recharged, The Ring’s No. 3 ranked contender should be back to his relentless best against Figueroa.

Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) will be fighting outside of the United States for the first time in his professional career.

In February 2025, the usually all-action 29-year-old drifted to a disappointing defeat to his old rival, Stephen Fulton Jr., in their eagerly awaited rematch and lost his WBC featherweight belt.

In the aftermath, Figueroa joined forces with renowned trainer, Manny Robles, and righted the ship with a July win over Joet Gonzalez in an eliminator for Ball’s title.

As well as holding the No. 7 position in The Ring standings, Figueroa is highly ranked by all of the governing bodies but seems to have targeted Ball.

Standing five-feet-nine tall, the Texan is six inches taller than Ball and will be relishing the idea of meeting somebody equally as aggressive as he. Figueroa will believe that the match-up offers him the perfect chance to regain a world title belt.

Odds: Ball is a sizeable 1-4 favourite with UK oddsmakers and is priced at 12-5 to win inside the distance. Figueroa is a 3-1 underdog. He is available at 11-2 to battle to a decision victory.

How does Ball win?: Ball is a master of using his size as an advantage and it will be important that he presents the rangy Figueroa with as little target area as possible as he closes the distance. Ball, of course, can’t afford to walk directly into range behind a high guard and will attack in his customary bursts.

If Ball does find himself in an inside fight, he will need to be wary of the counter punching skills of a seasoned inside fighter but the champion’s compact frame will make it difficult for Figueroa to find room and angles and Ball is adept at punching upwards.

Ball usually has to work out how to impose his style on his opponents but Figueroa’s aggressive attitude could play directly into his hands.

How does Figueroa win?: Boxing logic would tell you that the taller man should try to keep the fight long but Figueroa is an aggressive fighter who chooses to give away his advantages in height and reach in order to close the distance.

Ball will actively welcome such a fight and Figueroa will benefit greatly if he can make Ball pay whenever they do find themselves at arm’s length. If he can fill the gaps in the action with a scoring jab, it will pay dividends in the long run and whilst Ray Ford is a southpaw, he was able to find a way to land lead hooks to Ball’s body.

Eventually, the fight looks like becoming a test of will. Figueroa will have to match Ball’s effort and work rate but he will need to keep his punches tight. If he can make Ball take a backwards step, he will find himself much closer to a major win.

What it means if Ball wins: Ball wants to be involved in big fights and if he wins, he will be keen to secure a major summer showdown with one of his rival 126 pound champions. A victory over a respected name like Figueroa would also likely result in Ball improving his standing in The Ring rankings.

A comprehensive victory would do no harm to Ball’s chances of securing a fight with The Ring junior featherweight title holder, Naoya Inoue.

Ball would love the chance to welcome The Ring’s No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter to the featherweight division.

What it means if Figueroa wins: If Figueroa can beat an established champion like Ball on away soil, he would regain all of the ground his lost during his rematch with Fulton and set himself up for some big fights in the future.

An on-form Figueroa makes for must-see television and he will very quickly become a man in demand.

What they’re saying: “He’s coming over to Liverpool to try and take my belt. He’s got a world title opportunity, hasn't he? He's going to come and try, that's his job to do. Is he going to succeed? Who knows?” - Nick Ball

“I think my style of fighting is just very aggressive, very come forward. I hardly go back. I’m always pressuring and pushing the fight and styles make fights so we just have to see until how it plays out. I can't really say anything right now but I know that my style of fighting is just very, very, very awkward, very unique.” - Brandon Figueroa

TV/Stream: Ball vs. Figueroa will stream live on DAZN at 7pm GMT.