Nick Ball puts his WBA featherweight title on the line against former two-weight world champion Brandon Figueroa on Saturday night.

Ball is back in his hometown of Liverpool after beating Sam Goodman via a competitive unanimous decision in Riyadh last August. Like the 28-year-old’s successful defences against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny, the M&S Bank Arena is the venue for the showdown with Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs).

The Texas boxer should prove the most testing challenge of Ball’s reign to date. Figueroa has only ever lost to Stephen Fulton, who took his WBC belts at super bantamweight and featherweight over the course of a two-fight series.

Figueroa was lacklustre in the Fulton rematch last February and, although he got back in the win column against gatekeeper Joet Gonzalez last time out,  questions remain over whether boiling his 5ft 9ins frame down to 126 pounds is starting to take a toll.

If the challenger can relocate the form that saw him defeat the likes of Luis Nery, Mark Magsayo and Jessie Magdaleno, then we could be in for an instant classic on the banks of the Mersey.

Here’s a rundown of Saturday’s undercard, where there is plenty of local interest, including some of Ball’s standout gym-mates.

Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa undercard 

Here’s a breakdown of all the main card action on the Ball vs. Figueroa bill:

Andrew Cain vs. Alejandro Jair GonzalezDivision/Weight: BantamweightCain record: 14-1Gonzalez record: 19-6-3Belts at stake: WBC Silver

British and Commonwealth champion Cain returns to action in his hometown with this international contest, 11 months on from an assured win over former world champion Charlie Edwards to retain his titles.

That was a fourth win in a row for the 29-year-old following his surprise split decision loss to Ionut Baluta in March 2023.

Mexico’s Gonzalez is undefeated over a similar span of time and is on a career-best run of form with six wins in his past seven undefeated fights. A third-round KO of compatriot Juan Hernandez Navarrete last time out was his fourth stoppage during this period.

Jack Turner vs. Juan Carlos Martinez UrbinaDivision/Weight: Super flyweightTurner record: 13-0Martinez Urbina record: 10-3-1Belts at stake: N/A

Turner is one of the most exciting talents in British boxing and will look to extend a seven-fight KO streak against an opponent who has only been stopped once.

‘El Terrier’ scored a routine victory over Mohammed Shamim in Dubai last time out, a step down in the standard of opposition after Turner was bloodied and hurt before blasting Argentina’s Nicolas Agustin Muguruza to a sixth-round loss last August.

Martinez Urbina has gone 2-1-1 in his past four fights.

MORE: Where Jack Turner ranks in The Sporting News’ 25 under 25

Brad Strand vs. Ruben Lezama GonzalezDivision/Weight: Super bantamweightStrand record: 13-2Gonzalez record: 12-6Belts at stake: N/A

Like Ball and Cain, Strand trains out of the Everton Red Triangle Gym under veteran trainer Paul Stevenson. Last March, on the undercard of Ball’s win over TJ Doheny, he gained further — albeit unwanted — common ground with Cain when he dropped a split decision to the redoubtable Baluta.

He got back into the win column with a six-round points victory against a journeyman Erick Omar Lopez last time out. This fight against Gonzalez seems unlikely to go the distance.

The 20-year-old has claimed 11 of his 12 wins via knockout but has lost three of his past four, being stopped twice during that slump.

Hassan Ishaq vs. Leonardo BaezDivision/Weight: Super bantamweightIshaq record: 2-0Baez record: 5-16-0Belts at stake: N/A

Ishaq, the cousin of super middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz, steps out for the third time as a pro, having chalked up back-to-back KOs in 2025.

Argentina’s Baez has only been stopped once in his past five fights and has previously visited the UK for bouts with prospects Edward Hardy and Lee Rogers.

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William Birchall vs. Caine SinghDivision/Weight: Super featherweightBirchall record: 3-0Singh record: 2-8-2Belts at stake: N/A

Birchall is another Queensberry rookie with heavy hands and one of three boxing brothers who could become one of British boxing’s great stories over the coming years.

Hailing from Morecambe — Tyson Fury’s hometown — and also a member of the Traveller community, Birchall scored three KOs out of three in 2025.

Stephen Clarke vs. Lewis HowellsDivision/Weight: MiddleweightClarke record: 8-0Howells record: 3-5Belts at stake: N/A

Clarke is a product of Liverpool’s fabled Rotunda ABC and aiming to continue his assured progress as a pro to date.

The only blot on his progress is the lack of a stoppage win since his January 2024 debut, and Clarke will be keen to get to Howells inside the distance in front of a vocal home crowd.

Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa tune-in infoDate: Saturday, February 7, 2025Location: M&S Bank Arena, LiverpoolTime: 4:30 p.m. Man card start time: 7 p.m.Main event start time (approx.): 10:30 p.m.Live stream: DAZN

Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa is available on DAZN.

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