What went wrong for Nick Ball in Brandon Figueroa knockout world title defeat

Britain lost a world champion on Saturday night when Nick Ball was stopped in the 12th and final round of his WBA featherweight title fight against Brandon Figueroa. 

Those in attendance at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena, and watching live on DAZN, were treated to a close contest where both men had periods of success, but it would be Figueroa who triumphed over the relentless 'Wrecking Ball'.

But what went wrong for Ball under the bright lights on Merseyside? 

Figueroa drained Ball of energy 

One of the key talking points ahead of Saturday night's opening bell was whether Ball could negate Figueroa's seven-inch reach advantage. 

For much of the contest, Ball successfully navigated it, getting inside Figueroa's stance and landing upper cuts with ease. However, the American continued to come forward, landing shots to Ball's body and keeping the Brit on his toes. 

The Ring

With someone like Ball, who is a busy fighter inside the ring, keeping up high energy is paramount, but Figueroa's tactics and his decision to bring the fight to centre ring, drained the then-defending WBA featherweight champion both physically and mentally. 

This gave Figueroa the opportunity needed to strike Ball with a left hook for a knockdown before sending him through the ropes shortly after to bring the bout to a close. 

Former world champions Jones and Barker praise Figueroa's stamina

Two admirers of Figueroa's performance were former world champions Barry Jones and Darren Barker. 

Both were ringside commentating on the featherweight world title fight, and analysed events in the ring on DAZN's Beyond The Bell. 

Jones highlighted Figueroa's vast experience as a crucial factor in his victory, and his ability to keep up with Ball despite struggling in the early rounds where the Briton had the most success. 

"Figueroa, he’s battle tested, his whole career, he just outlasts you, and that’s where his strength is," Jones said.

"Most thought in his last few fights he looked jaded, and that might be a problem. In the early rounds the speed of Ball was effective, he was outworking him at times.

"He kept plugging away, making Ball work hard, and when had the chance to land the beautiful shot, fatigue plays its part."

After winning world titles in two weight divisions, Figueroa knows what it takes to deliver on the biggest of stages. However, this fight against Ball was new territory with it being his first outing outside of the US. 

While away fighters are already at a disadvantage, Figueroa was making a strong impression with two judges having him winning on their respective scorecards before the knockout blow. 

For Barker, the fact Figueroa continued to come forward was a sign of his intelligence after competing at the highest level for so long, but questioned whether the American could have put Ball away if he decided to go for the knockout at an earlier stage of the bout. 

"That’s intelligence, that’s someone who knows how to win big fights," Barker stated.

"What he did with that aggression being effective was empty the tank of Nick Ball, and that’s when you see the exhaustion show, and when that shot landed, and perhaps if he landed it earlier, it would not have had the same effect."

Ball will return to boxing's highest level

DAZN News Sportswriter Matt Astbury

Walking out the arena on Saturday night, Ball could not have done much more. 

He unsettled Figueroa early on, and while he lost in a punishing fashion, there is no doubt 'Wrecking Ball' has all the attributes to come again. 

At the end of the day, Ball was beaten by a former world champion who does not fear the trenches, and it was who had the superior gas tank which would determine the eventual victor. 

Unfortunately for Ball, he may have gone too early with his offensive gameplan which made him easy pickings for Figueroa in the championship rounds.

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