Former UFC title challenger Till KOs Taylor drops trio of boxing calls

The next step in Darren Till’s boxing career couldn’t have gone much better on Saturday.

Till, a former UFC welterweight title challenger, dominated Anthony Taylor throughout, then finished him with a sixth-round TKO in the Misfits X Series 20 main event at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. The fight was a scheduled eight-round heavyweight exhibition match.

According to online reports, Taylor collapsed outside the ring after the loss and was transported to a local hospital.

Taylor took the fight on short notice after Tommy Fury pulled out of the match, citing Till’s threats that he would resort to MMA like kicks – illegal in boxing. Fury announced his retirement from boxing earlier this week.

After the victory, Till excitedly called out Fury, KSI and Jorge Masvidal, who holds an MMA victory over him.

Check out the highlights below.

https://twitter.com/MF_DAZNXSeries/status/1880752819021734155

https://twitter.com/ChampRDS/status/1880755681470652790

Till made his boxing debut in an exhibition fight in July 2024 and won by second-round TKO. A post-match brawl spoiled things after a late punch-up. This was Till’s first combat sports action since his UFC release in late 2022.

After a 16-0-1 start in MMA, Till got a chance against then-welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 228 in September 2018. He was submitted in the second round. He was eliminated by Masvidal during his follow-up.

Till moved up to middleweight for a split decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum in late 2019, but dropped his next three in a row to former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and current champion Dricus du Plessis.