Brandon Figueroa just pulled off a stunning upset, and now he's being offered a massive platform on a global stage! Following his incredible knockout victory over Nick Ball, which not only revived his career but also secured him the WBA 126lbs title, boxing powerhouse Turki Alalshikh has extended a remarkable invitation.
Figueroa, a three-time major titlist, achieved this impressive feat on enemy territory, defeating Ball in the 12th round in Liverpool, England. Alalshikh, a prominent figure in boxing finance, was quick to praise Figueroa's bravery and skill. He shared on social media, "A huge congratulations to Brandon Figueroa for showing his character by taking the risk and traveling to the champion's backyard to capture the WBA featherweight championship with a great knockout in the final round."
But here's where it gets even more exciting: Alalshikh has offered Figueroa a prime spot on the highly anticipated 'Mexico vs. the World' card scheduled for September 12th in Riyadh. This event is set to be headlined by the legendary Mexican superstar, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, marking his return to the ring. For context, Canelo is aiming to fight exactly 52 weeks after he relinquished his undisputed 168lbs championship to Terence Crawford last September.
And this is the part most people miss: Accepting this offer would mean Figueroa, a Mexican-American fighter, would be fighting outside the US for the second consecutive time. This is a significant shift for a boxer who has predominantly fought in his home state of Texas, with other bouts in Las Vegas and California. It's a testament to his willingness to embrace new challenges and expand his global reach.
Interestingly, Queensberry Promotions had managed to secure the mandatory WBA featherweight title fight for Nick Ball, giving him his third home game in his last four fights. Despite this advantage, Ball's title reign, which began with a win over Raymond Ford in Riyadh in June 2024, came to an end. Even if the knockout hadn't occurred, Figueroa was on track for an upset victory, leading on two of the judges' scorecards (107-102 and 106-103), though one judge inexplicably had him trailing (107-102).
This win marks Figueroa's third title triumph across two weight divisions, adding to his previous reigns as WBA 122lbs and WBC 126lbs champion. He has largely been associated with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), an organization that has been increasingly collaborating with Alalshikh's Riyadh Season.
While Figueroa hasn't officially commented on Alalshikh's generous offer, his immediate focus appears to be on bringing a major title fight back to his hometown in Texas, a place he hasn't fought in since 2022. He expressed his desire to give his local fans a spectacular event, stating, "I want to bring a fight back to my hometown, give my fans back home a fight there. They deserve it. It’s a small little town, I want to bring exciting fights there. After that, let’s unify."
Figueroa has his sights set on unifying the featherweight division, with other champions including WBC belt holder Bruce Carrington, IBF titlist Angelo Leo, and WBO champion Rafael Espinoza. He declared, "I want all of them. Bruce Carrington, Espinoza … who’s the other one? Angelo Leo. All of them. Let’s get it."
Now, here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Is fighting on a massive international card like 'Mexico vs. the World' the ultimate career move for a fighter like Brandon Figueroa, or does the allure of fighting in his hometown hold more significance? What do you think?
