Tony Ferguson beats Salt Papi by third-round TKO in thrilling debut at Misfits Boxing 22 ending his 8 fight skid

Tony Ferguson stopped Salt Papi in the third round of his boxing debut on Saturday, August 31, at Misfits Boxing 22 in Manchester, England. The former UFC interim lightweight champion, who had lost eight straight MMA fights, switched to boxing gloves and made a winning start, earning a TKO at 2:43 of round three in the co-main event streamed live on DAZN PPV.

The victory also gave Tony Ferguson the Misfits Boxing Pro interim middleweight title in his very first professional boxing bout.

Tony Ferguson ends losing streak with powerful finish over Salt Papi

Tony Ferguson came into this fight with many doubting him. The 40-year-old from California had dropped eight consecutive bouts in the UFC and many fans believed he should retire. Instead, he chose a new path, stepping into the boxing ring against British-Filipino YouTuber and boxer Salt Papi, whose real name is Nathaniel Bustamante.

In the opening two rounds, Salt Papi was sharper. He landed clean shots and looked more comfortable with his footwork. Tony Ferguson, however, stayed in front of him and kept applying pressure. The fight changed in round three. Ferguson pressed Salt Papi to the ropes and unleashed a nonstop flurry of punches. Many of the shots got through, and with Papi struggling to respond, the referee decided to stop the fight instead of giving a standing eight count.

The stoppage gave Tony Ferguson a huge win and a fresh start in combat sports. His official record in boxing now stands at 1-0 with one knockout.Also Read: Michael Jordan’s Controversial Leaked Messages Spark Lawsuit Feud That Could Change NASCAR Forever

Dillon Danis calls out Tony Ferguson after his victory in Manchester

The drama did not end with Tony Ferguson’s win. Right after the fight at AO Arena in Manchester, Dillon Danis entered the ring. Danis had fought earlier that same night, submitting Warren Spencer in an MMA contest. Standing face-to-face with Ferguson, Danis teased a potential matchup between the two.The big question now is which sport they would fight in. Would it be inside a boxing ring or back under MMA rules? Speaking to the crowd, Danis made it clear that he is interested. “It’s me and him,” he said, pointing toward Ferguson.For now, Tony Ferguson enjoys his long-awaited return to the winner’s circle. After years of losses in the UFC, his debut in boxing gave him a championship belt and a new direction in his career. Whether his next fight is with Dillon Danis or someone else, Tony Ferguson has shown he still has fight left in him.