Nick Ball lost his WBA featherweight title after a knockout defeat to Brandon Figueroa in front of his home crowd in Liverpool on Saturday.
The fight appeared to be headed for the scorecards when the 29-year-old American Figueroa landed a left hand shot to drop the champion to the canvas in the 12th round.
Although home favorite Ball got back to his feet, Figueroa made sure the fight did not go to the scorecards as he put his opponent between the ropes and the fight was waved off by the referee.
However, chaos descended in the ring with celebrations from Figueroa’s camp spilling out and leading to a melee between both camps.
Ball, unbeaten in 24 previous fights, had tried to push the pace, but Figueroa would not be subdued.
Figueroa got his breakthrough as the fight entered the final three minutes when he sent Ball to the canvas with a powerful left hand.
Ball regained his feet, but Figueroa sensed his opportunity and finished the job soon after, dropping Ball on the ropes.
There had been little between the pair for many of the rounds. The ball landed some telling strikes, but Figueroa threw more strikes.
Both had wobbles in the eighth round with Ball forced into the ropes at one point while Figueroa went down after losing his footing.
Ball tried to increase the intensity as the finish approached, but Figueroa held on and prevailed in the end.
The Wrecking Ball suffered the first defeat of his career, while Figueroa is now a three-time world champion.
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