Darren Till launches into boxing with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight

Former UFC welterweight title contender Darren Till will be the latest to make the switch from MMA to boxing when he steps into the ring for his professional boxing debut against former WBC world champion Welterweight Means Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike. Tyson on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The fight is scheduled for six rounds and will be contested at cruiserweight with a weight limit of 190 pounds.

Till, 31, is making his professional boxing debut after a successful UFC career as a welterweight and middleweight with an overall MMA record of 18-5-1.

The Liverpool, England product challenged Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title in 2018, but lost by second-round submission. After starting his MMA career 17-0-1, Till went 1-5 over his next six fights with losses to Jorge Masvidal, Robert Whittaker and current UFC middleweight champion Dricus of Plessis. The loss to du Plessis in December 2022 was the last time Till fought in the Octagon.

There were rumors that Till would be heading to the Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championships to challenge Mike Perry, but the Englishman shut down the idea of ​​a bare-knuckle fighting venture, despite offers from the promotion.

“I am very happy with my opponent,” Till said in a statement. “I have been a fan of his father for many years and I am also a fan of Chavez Jr., he is a great fighter that I respect, but make no mistake, I am coming to knock him out in the first round I am satisfied with my situation in life and I will come to make a statement on July 20 in Texas.

Till’s boxing debut will be against an opponent whose last name carries significant weight in the sport.

Chavez – son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. – has struggled to emerge from his father’s massive shadow despite being the first Mexican fighter to win middleweight gold when he won the WBC middleweight title in 2011. He successfully defended the championship. three times before dropping him in a unanimous decision loss to Sergio Martinez.

Since the first loss of his professional career, Chavez (53-6-1, 34 KOs) has struggled to live up to his family name, suffering one-sided losses to Andrzej Fonfara, Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs, while his dedication to the sport was regularly questioned.

This won’t be the first MMA fighter Chávez, 38, has faced. In 2021, the Mexican fighter dropped a split decision to UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva. He last fought in December 2021 when he earned a unanimous decision against unheralded opponent David Zegarra.

“I’m excited to get back in the ring after some time off, and I’m motivated and eager to reestablish myself as one of the greats,” Chavez said. “I was the first Mexican middleweight champion in Mexican history and I want to prove that I can become champion again. My return to the ring at this historic event is an honor. On Saturday, July 20, I will win by KO and continue my journey.”

A lightweight battle between two highly touted prospects is also predicted for the Paul-Tyson card.

Ashton “H2O” Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) and Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) will face off in a 10-round battle as both 135-pound fighters look to move up in a division filled with talented fighters.

Sylve, 20, has regularly been touted as the next big star to emerge from Paul’s most valuable promotions. The 2022 ESPN Ringside Prospect of the Year returns to action after scoring a unanimous decision victory over Brazilian Estivan Falcao in February. Sylve has been outstanding in his short tenure as a professional, but Schofield represents a major step up in competition.

Schofield, 21, made his professional debut in 2020 and reeled off 16 consecutive victories over the next three years. In his last outing, he was placed as a co-feature on the undercard of Golden Boy Promotions’ showdown between William Zepeda and Maxi Hughes. What was supposed to be Schofield’s coming out party was drowned out by his opponent Esteuri Suero, who was disqualified for various fouls throughout the fight.

The showdown between Sylve and Schofield may be a bit surprising given that their paths cross so early in their respective careers. But both fighters know that a victory on July 20 will propel them up the lightweight ladder in hopes of securing a title opportunity in the near future.