Nick Ball's Journey to the Top: Embracing the Challenge of Being Underrated
Nick Ball's dedication to becoming a world champion spans over two decades, but his journey is far from over. As he prepares to defend his WBA title against mandatory challenger Brandon Figueroa on February 7, Ball is stepping into a new phase of his career, one that demands even greater effort and focus.
The 28-year-old's upcoming bout in his hometown of Liverpool marks his fourth WBA title defense, following victories over Sam Goodman, TJ Doheny, and Ronny Rios. His crowning moment came in June 2024 when he defeated Raymond Ford. Unlike previous years, Ball now faces the challenge of back-to-back assignments at the world level, a lifestyle he has always envisioned.
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Ball says, "I like it the hard way, because then you've earned it – no one can take that away from you. I always knew I was going to become world champion; it was just a matter of when. Now I'm defending it [the WBA title], and there's other belts to get in the division as well – the big unification fights; the big fights all the fans are speaking about."
The 'big unification fights' are indeed on Ball's radar, but his next opponent, Figueroa, is no easy feat. Standing at 5ft 9in, Figueroa presents a unique challenge for the defending champion, who stands at around 5ft 2in. However, this is not unfamiliar territory for Ball, who delivered a career-best performance against the 5ft 10in Ray Vargas in 2023.
Despite the judges' controversial decision to score their WBC world title fight a draw, Ball's performance against Vargas showcased his ability to excel against taller opponents. Figueroa's style and body dimensions could offer ideal preparation for a potential unification clash with WBO world champion Rafael Espinoza, who is a towering featherweight champion with a nearly foot-long height advantage.
"Yeah, it does [prepare me for Espinoza], doesn't it? As you said, they've got similar builds," Ball acknowledges. "This Figueroa, he comes forward to fight – and so does Espinoza. So they've got similarities, but every fight's different. I've always liked fighting taller people. I like being underestimated and the underdog – it brings the best out of me – so it's no problem."
While Ball is no stranger to facing taller opponents, the potential fight with Espinoza at 126lbs could be the most appealing due to the freakish height disparity and the recognition of Ball and Espinoza as the two best fighters in their division. However, for now, the focus remains on Figueroa, and Ball is ready to embrace the challenge, embracing the role of the underdog once again.
