With The Ring 6 having crowned Shakur Stevenson as the new face of boxing thanks to his four-weight success, attention now turns to the rest of a busy February slate.

Nick Ball will bid to defend his WBA featherweight crown with a major Liverpool homecoming, but there's plenty more to chew over across the next seven days beyond it too.

From the next steps of a champion to questions over future kings, DAZN News takes a look towards the week in boxing - and picks out the five key things to watch out for.

The Ring

Ball eyes homecoming glory

In a quiet week for major fights, the biggest bout by far comes on Merseyside, where local hero Ball will bid to retain his major strap against the rangy Brandon Figueroa.

Small in stature, but with a mean reputation in the ring, the star has overcome every obstacle placed in his path so far, and will be the favourite to do so once more here.

But his opponent will have different ideas about spoiling the party and could throw a serious wrench in Ball's plans to pursue long-desired unification bouts down the line.

Sheeraz narrows the search

Half a year has passed since Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz stopped Edgar Berlanga in New York City to announce himself as a serious super-middleweight contender.

It appeared that the wait for a title shot would go on though after news broke that Diego Pacheco had withdrawn from their prospective bout for the vacant WBO belt.

CRIS ESQUEDA/GOLDEN BOY

Sheeraz's team appear to have moved fast though, with undefeated German Alem Begic expected to face him in May in Manchester. Keep an eye out for more details.

Stevenson eyes Benn battle

Fresh off his latest success at Madison Square Garden, the newly minted WBO light-welterweight champion promptly called out Conor Benn for his next scrap in the ring.

The Briton did not shirk away from the challenge, jumping between the ropes for a heated stand-off between the two, while a defeated Lopez looked on bemused at them.

Stevenson might see a big opportunity here, but with Benn chasing a welterweight title shot - and plenty more chasing him too - this might be one that goes AWOL in the end.

King Kelly considers options

Half the world away from New York City, Josh Kelly added his name to the honour roll of British champions with an IBF light-middleweight win over Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Success makes him the sixth male king of the world right now from the country, alongside Ball, Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens and Dalton Smith.

Now, he will turn his attention towards a potential Stadium of Light homecoming in his native Sunderland. Expect Matchroom to make fast moves on finding him a foe.

Medina makes first bantamweight defence

Fresh off a September victory over home favourite Yoshiki Takei to claim the WBO bantamweight crown, Christian Medina returns from Japan for a first defence this week.

The Mexican will not expect an easy ride against his opponent however, in the shape of one-time IBF light-flyweight champion Adrian Curiel, bent on two-class success.

Victory however could well push him into the conversation for a unification bout, or even a challenge from junior bantamweight star Jesse Rodriguez down the line too.

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