Darren Till’s Comeback
Darren Till is making a comeback in the boxing arena, and he’s not the only notable fighter returning to the ring. Former UFC champion Luke Rockhold will also be joining the matchup alongside Till during the highly anticipated Misfits Boxing 22 event slated for August 30 in Manchester, England, as announced by Misfits Boxing on Wednesday.
Main Event Details
The main event features a bridgerweight clash, categorized for fighters weighing between 200 and 224 pounds, where Till, now 32 years old, will face off against Rockhold. The event is set to be broadcast live on DAZN.
Co-Main Event
Meanwhile, the co-main event will see Tony Ferguson stepping into professional boxing for the first time, going against Nathaniel “Salt Papi” Bustamante in a middleweight bout at 160 pounds.
Fighter Backgrounds
Since transitioning from MMA to boxing in 2023, Till has been successful in maintaining an undefeated streak. He notched a TKO victory in an exhibition fight against Mohammad Mutie in 2024 and continued his winning streak with professional wins over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart earlier this year.
Rockhold, who departed the UFC in 2022, has also kept himself busy within the striking world. The 38-year-old faced Mike Perry in a bare-knuckle boxing match in 2023, suffering a second-round TKO defeat but bounced back with an impressive knockout against Joe Schilling at a Karate Combat event in April 2024.
Ferguson’s upcoming bout marks his entry into professional boxing after parting ways with the UFC in January, where he notably set the record for the longest losing streak in the promotion’s history with eight consecutive losses. A name synonymous with greatness in the lightweight division during his peak, Ferguson initially planned to continue his MMA career by signing with the now-defunct Global Fight League for a scheduled fight with Dillon Danis, which ultimately fell through when the league dissolved.
Salt Papi’s Experience
Among these intriguing matchups, Salt Papi stands out with the most boxing experience, holding a 6-2 record and enjoying a three-fight win streak in exhibition contests since his debut in March 2022, with all his victories coming via stoppages.
The upcoming Misfits Boxing 22 promises to be a night filled with excitement and stories of comeback for these fighters.
