Anthony Taylor is set to fight Darren Till in the main event of Misfits Boxing 20 on January 18, 2025, after stepping in for Tommy Fury, who withdrew due to concerns over Till’s potential use of MMA tactics.
Anthony Taylor was all set to step up against Darren Till as soon as Tommy Fury backed out of Misfits Boxing 20. Funny enough, Taylor had a hunch he’d be stepping into the ring with Till way before it became official.
The showdown is slated for January 18 in Manchester, England, marking Misfits’ first major fight card of 2025. “I see it like this,” Taylor said to MMA Fighting, “when one door closes, another opens. I knew when Tommy pulled out, I’d likely get the call.”
Taylor’s confidence is sky-high. “I’m better than Tommy and Darren,” he declared. “I deserve my own main event. I’m the Triple H of Misfits. No one does what I do. Hard work makes it look easy.”
When the call came from Mams Taylor, Misfits promoter, Anthony was unfazed. “Send the contract,” he insisted. For him, fans come first. “Without them, there’s no Anthony ‘Pretty Boy’ Taylor or Misfits Boxing,” he emphasized, adding his motto: currency over legacy.
Tommy Fury cited Till’s potential use of MMA tactics—kicks and takedowns—as his reason for withdrawing. But Anthony thinks it was just a negotiation ploy for more cash.
“When you talk about Tommy and Tyson Fury, they’re worlds apart,” Taylor explained. “Tyson’s ready to fight anytime, but Tommy? He’s like cheap toilet paper.”
Taylor respects Tyson but questions Tommy’s dedication to boxing. “Tommy isn’t committed like Tyson,” he said. “He’s more about entertaining than fighting.”
Despite acknowledging Tommy beat him in their first encounter, Taylor insists he’s more dedicated now. “This is my paycheck,” he stated.
Taylor enters the fight on a five-fight win streak, including a knockout victory over Gabriel Silva at Misfits Boxing 17. Meanwhile, Till returns to boxing after leaving the UFC post-loss to Dricus du Plessis.
In July, Till secured a TKO win at Social Knockout 3 amidst chaos. However, Taylor criticized Till’s debut performance as “terrible” but acknowledged it was his first boxing bout.
The fight will be at 195 pounds over eight rounds—a setup that excites Taylor. “I love eight rounds; I get to drown him,” he said enthusiastically.
Aware of Till’s MMA background and fighting spirit, Taylor remains focused on his own strategy. “I respect Darren; he’s game,” he admitted but remains confident in his abilities.
“I’m not worried about what Darren will do,” Taylor concluded. “I’m focused on executing my plan.”