LIVERPOOL, England -
Brandon Figueroa barely had time to catch his breath during a whistle stop tour to Liverpool, promoting his upcoming fight with WBA world featherweight champion
Nick Ball.
Within three hours of his plane landing in the UK, the 28-year-old had cleared immigration and completed a press conference.
The Texan has ventured across the southern border and into Mexico before but had never been to Europe and a couple of things immediately grabbed his attention.
"Drivers sit on the right side and they drive on the left. That's the first thing I noticed," the two-division world champion told
The Ring as he took a few minutes before completing his media obligations.
"Oh, and the plugs are different as well."
Travelling without a large entourage, Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) arrived quietly and took his place at the press conference dais. He and Ball engaged in a long face-off but spoke respectfully before heading their separate ways.
That relaxed attitude will be extremely useful. On February 7, The Ring's No. 7-ranked featherweight will be back in Liverpool to fight and the welcome will be much less warm.
Figueroa is a 10-year veteran of the sport and a vastly experienced professional but has never before boxed a rival in their own back yard.
"Yes, this is actually his territory, literally. So yeah, it's the first time," he said.
"When I fought
Luis Nery it was at Carson, California so it wasn't really necessarily his territory but here, it's Nick Ball’s city.
"So it’s a special, special night."
In February, Figueroa struggled to pin down the slick, talented
Stephen Fulton and lost his WBC featherweight title in their highly-anticipated rematch.
Despite the loss, a number of avenues remained open to him.
He is highly-ranked by the WBO and the IBF and only recently exited the WBC standings but - in July -
he outpointed Joet Gonzalez in an WBA title eliminator and was subsequently named as Ball's mandatory challenger.
Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) is much more clever and cute than many give him credit for, but the 28-year-old champion isn't going to box and move like Fulton.
The Ring's No. 3-ranked featherweight is a naturally aggressive bundle of energy, who has imposed himself on every one of his opponents thus far.
The all-action Figueroa appreciates Ball’s style and attitude but believes he will get a shock when the pair inevitable meet in centre ring.
"I think my style of fighting is just very aggressive, very come forward. I hardly go back," he said.
"I'm always pressuring, pushing the fight and styles make fights so we just have to see until how it plays out.
"I can't really say anything right now but I know that my style of fighting is just very awkward, very unique."