Former UFC title challenger Till KOs Taylor, drops a trio of punches

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

Till, a former UFC welterweight title contender, 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 an exhibition bout scheduled for eight rounds at heavyweight.

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 fight, citing Till’s threats that he would resort to MMA strikes like kicks – illegal in boxing. Fury announced his retirement from boxing earlier this week.

After the win, Till enthusiastically called out Fury, KSI and Jorge Masvidal, who has an MMA win over him.

See the highlights below.

Till made his boxing debut in an exhibition bout in July 2024, winning by TKO in round 2. A post-fight brawl marred things after a late punch. It was Till’s first martial arts action since his UFC release in late 2022.

After a 16-0-1 MMA start, Till earned a shot at then-welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 228 in September 2018. He was submitted in the second round. He was knocked out by Masvidal in his follow-up.

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