Things you didn’t know about Brandon Figueroa
Nick Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) defends his WBA world featherweight championship to two-weight world champion Brandon Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday, February 7, live on DAZN.
But who is the visiting fighter about to travel 4,750 miles for his first fight in the UK? BBN have researched the challenger to one of the UK’s five reigning world champions to find out all there is to know about the Texan right here.
Brandon Figueroa
Brandon Lee Figueroa was born December 29, 1996, in Welasco, Texas, America.
Figueroa’s parents are from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brandon Lee is very proud of his dual heritage, often representing both the American and Mexican flags in the ring.
His father, Omar Figueroa Sr., recalled when his youngest son asked to start boxing at the age of six or seven and his reply was, “No. You’re too skinny, too wimpy and too good looking to be fighting.” He was happy to admit, “You know what? That kid proved me wrong.”
He has an older brother, Omar Figueroa, who is a former WBC lightweight world champion (2014).
Brandon looked up to Omar and copied his routine and techniques in training.
His boxing nickname is “The Heartbreaker”. According to Premier Boxing Champions, the nicknamed was coined by female fans who admired him and his brother at amateur tournaments. They would shout “Rompecorazones, Rompecorazones!”, which is Spanish for “Heartbreaker”.
As an amateur, he accumulated a 36-12 record.
He lost to Shakur Stevenson in the 2014 USA Youth National Championships semi-final.
Brandon made his pro debut on May 9, 2015, at State Farm Arena, Texas, winning a four-round contest on points. He went on to have a total of 15 fights in his home state of Texas.
He won his first pro title in April 2019, when he reached 19-0, winning after eight-rounds against Yonfrez Parejo to claim the vacant WBA Interim super-bantamweight title.
He defended the Interim title once, via fourth-round KO, before being elevated to the Regular champion shortly after. In his first defence, he retained the belt, but only just, held to a draw by Julio Ceja in November 2019.
Figueroa defended the WBA belt twice more, becoming a unified champion in May 2021 after stopping Luis Nery in seven to take his WBC belt.
His first and only loss came via a narrow mixed decision defeat to WBO champ Stephen Fulton Jr. in November 2021. Some believe the decision to be a controversial one, including Brandon, who called it, “the biggest robbery in boxing.”
Brandon moved up to featherweight where he won a WBC Eliminator against Carlos Castro in July 2022, then he claimed the vacant WBC Interim featherweight with an impressive win over Mark Magsayo in 2023, which he followed up with defence in 2024, knocking out Jessie Magdaleno in nine rounds, elevated the to full WBC world champion soon after.
When he came up against Fulton again, for the WBC featherweight world title, in February 2025, he was defeated a second time by his nemesis, this time unanimously.
He is now trained by Manny Robles in South Gate, California, switching from his father, Omar Figueroa Sr., during the summer of 2025, following his second loss to Fulton.
Figueroa’s ambition is be remembered as a boxing legend and to help his community in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas.
He was once arrested for criminal trespassing, but the case was dismissed around a year after the arrest. Then, he was recently for a DUI, when he was found to be intoxicated while driving, reportedly testing 0.15%, which is almost two times over the State limit of 0.8%.
His brother, Omar Jr., has been diagnosed with bipolar as an adult.
Every year, Brandon holds a Christmas Posada, which is a traditional Spanish function to celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph and the birth of baby Jesus. As well as the sharing of stories, there are also gifts, which Brandon shares around his local community.
Both he and his brother have been honoured by their local Hidalgo County Commissioners Court in recognition of their sporting success.
Brandon likes to inspire others, often sharing quotes online, such as “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’.
He is the face of LOCK’D IN, an energy drink brand that he recently partnered up with Manny Pacquiao to promote.
He has a love for bikes and racing.
Figueroa is very religious and often says he owes everything to the ‘Heavenly Father’.
Coming from Texas, he can often be seen wearing cowboy hats.
Figueroa is ranked WBA #1 / WBO #1 / IBO #3 at featherweight.
