Overview
- Referee Steve Gray halted the fight 32 seconds into round 12 after Figueroa dropped Ball with a left hook and then sent him through the ropes with a follow-up flurry.
- The bout was tight on the cards, with Figueroa narrowly ahead on two official scorecards at the time of the stoppage, according to the DAZN broadcast.
- Ball absorbed the first defeat of his professional career in his fourth title defense, ending his unbeaten run and relinquishing the WBA belt.
- The matchup highlighted a stark size contrast and style clash, with the 5ft 9in Figueroa facing the 5ft 2in defending champion after weigh-ins of 124.1lb and 125.1lb respectively.
- Ugly scenes followed the stoppage as objects were thrown and tempers flared briefly, after which Figueroa apologized to the crowd and praised Ball while eyeing unifications with WBC champion Bruce Carrington, IBF titleholder Angelo Leo, or WBO’s Rafael Espinoza.