LIVERPOOL, England - After five world title fights in 17 months, WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball has spent the past couple of months recuperating and preparing himself for a big 2026.

Although nothing is set in stone, it seems likely the 28-year-old Liverpudlian will return in the first quarter of next year.

Last month, the WBA announced they had installed The Ring’s No. 7-ranked featherweight contender, Brandon Figueroa, as Ball's mandatory challenger.

As well as sitting atop the WBA rankings, two-weight world champion Figueroa, is ranked at No. 1 by the WBC and WBO.

This past February, Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) lost his WBC 126-pound title in a messy rematch with Stephen Fulton. In July, he rebounded with a disputed but nonetheless 12-round unanimous decision nod over Joet Gonzalez.

Ball's trainer, Paul Stevenson, respects the all-action 28-year-old Texan but remains extremely confident that Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) will hold onto his title.

"It's a good one. Stylistically a good fight but Nick's at the top of his game. He’s right there," Stevenson told The Ring. "As good an opponent as it is, he'll have to bring something special to try and dethrone Nick."

Ranked No. 3 by The Ring, Ball last saw action in August when successfully defending his WBA title against previously-undefeated contender Sam Goodman.

Although Ball was always a step ahead of the determined Australian, he wasn’t quite as explosive as he had been during his exciting title-winning effort against Raymond Ford or his subsequent defences against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny.

Fitness fanatic Ball isn't the type to rest on his laurels and forget the habits that made him successful but fighting at the highest level does take its toll. Ball has been one of boxing's most active champions and it sounds like the brief break has done him the world of good.

Stevenson is expecting a reinvigorated Ball to hit the ground running and start 2026 with a bang.

"Nick's really just flying at the minute, he’s sky high. He’s had three title defences and loving being champion,” he said.

"He’s training harder than ever. He’s not one of them who suddenly takes their foot off the gas. Every title defence makes him work harder and he's getting better as well. He’s fighting them fighters and learning while he's doing it.

"We're looking for a lovely career-best performance from Nick and moving on to who knows what next. Bigger things."