In a significant announcement made on social media by KSI’s promotional outfit, Misfits Boxing, it was revealed on November 18, 2024, that Tommy Fury was set to face former MMA fighter Darren Till on January 18, 2025, in Manchester. This highly anticipated crossover bout generated immediate buzz within the combat sports community, pitting a burgeoning boxing talent against a seasoned mixed martial artist making his full professional boxing transition.
The original announcement came amidst a period of high activity for Tommy Fury. He was reportedly set to enter the Australian jungle for that year’s series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, but ultimately withdrew at the last minute, reportedly due to a more lucrative offer. At the time, speculation suggested this offer might have been a rematch with YouTuber KSI, whom Fury had defeated by unanimous decision in a close six-round bout in October 2023. Fury had also previously secured a career-defining victory over Jake Paul in February 2023, winning by split decision in an eight-round contest. Jake Paul himself had just made headlines, breaking streaming records with his fight against boxing legend Mike Tyson on Netflix’s inaugural boxing event on November 15, 2024. Paul took the 50-6 Tyson the distance, winning by unanimous decision in a professional bout that saw Tyson’s age show in the ring.
Tommy Fury vs Darren Till: The Cancellation
The proposed fight between Tommy Fury and Darren Till was slated to take place at the Co-Op Arena in Manchester. Promoter Kalle Sauerland had enthusiastically promoted the event, stating it would be ‘the wildest scrap of 2025. Absolute tear up…Manchester vs Liverpool January El Classico…live on DAZN’. However, the highly anticipated clash ultimately never came to fruition. In early December 2024, Tommy Fury announced his withdrawal from the fight.
Fury cited Darren Till’s repeated threats to disregard professional boxing rules and resort to MMA tactics, such as kicking, if he found himself losing the fight. In a statement, Fury expressed his frustration: “I can’t believe I’m writing this but I am now not fighting Darren Till on January 18th 2025. For the one simple reason being that Darren has stated over and over that he does not want to abide by professional boxing rules and that if he is losing the fight he will resort to kicking and other stupid MMA tactics.” He emphasized his commitment to professional boxing, stating, “I am a professional boxer, I have been out of the ring for over a year and I wanted this to be a great BOXING fight for the fans. I have wasted weeks in training camp.”
Darren Till, in response, fired back at Fury, claiming that his threats were merely a promotional tactic to generate hype for the bout. He revealed that Team Fury, specifically John Fury, had informed Misfits Boxing promoters they were pulling out due to Till’s comments made during a pre-fight press conference. Till accused Team Fury of “bullying” previous opponents and insisted he would still fight on January 18, even without Fury.
Darren Till’s Boxing Journey Continues
Darren Till’s UFC career saw the Liverpool man achieve significant victories over notable fighters such as Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, showcasing his striking prowess. However, he notably fell short in high-profile bouts against Tyron Woodley, Robert Whittaker, Jorge Masvidal, and Dricus Du Plessis, leading to his departure from the UFC. Till had made his boxing debut in an exhibition bout against Mohammed Mutie in June 2024, securing a second-round victory, though the fight was not without controversy. He was also set to face Julio Caesar Chavez Jr on the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson card when it was initially scheduled for July 2024, but that fight never materialized due to the postponement of the main event.
Following the cancellation of the Tommy Fury fight, Darren Till indeed remained on the January 18, 2025, card. He faced American MMA fighter Anthony Taylor, who had previously gone the distance with Tommy Fury in 2021. Till delivered a strong performance, securing a TKO victory in the sixth round. This win marked his official professional boxing debut and a successful entry into the Misfits Boxing scene. Till continued his boxing journey, next facing Darren Stewart on May 16, 2025, where he secured another victory via unanimous decision. His next challenge is scheduled for August 30, 2025, against former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in Manchester.
Misfits Boxing’s Expanding Influence
Misfits Boxing continued its rapid expansion, staging one of its biggest cards yet, the ‘Qatar Supercard’ (Misfits X Series 19), in Doha, Qatar, on November 28, 2024. The event featured a stacked lineup of influencer boxing talent. AnEsonGib vs Slim Albaher topped the bill, with AnEsonGib emerging victorious by majority decision to claim the Misfits super middleweight title. Other notable outcomes included Salt Papi defeating King Kenny by TKO, Deji securing a KO victory over Dawood Savage, and Jarvis successfully defending his Misfits welterweight title against Ben Williams after Williams sustained an injury. Chase DeMoor also became the new Misfits heavyweight champion on the night.
With the cancellation of the Fury-Till bout, the landscape for future Misfits main events shifted. KSI, the co-founder of Misfits, had previously hinted at eyeing the winner of the Fury-Till fight for his next opponent. However, persistent rumors have also circulated regarding a potential clash between KSI and former professional boxer Amir Khan. Khan has publicly stated his interest in the fight, setting a price of £10 million to step back into the ring. While discussions have been ongoing, a definitive announcement for a KSI vs. Khan bout has yet to be made.
Tommy Fury, despite the Till cancellation, has maintained his undefeated professional boxing record, which currently stands at 11 wins and 0 losses. He most recently defeated Kenan Hanjalic by unanimous decision on May 9, 2025, and is scheduled to face Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall on June 13, 2026. The evolving world of crossover boxing, spearheaded by promotions like Misfits, continues to provide a platform for both established boxers and combat sports athletes to compete, drawing significant attention and shaping new rivalries.
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