This article provides a summary of the live blog coverage for the main event at Misfits Boxing 21, an influencer boxing match featuring former UFC competitors Darren Till and Darren Stewart. The event took place on Friday at Vaillant Live in Derby, England.
Fighter Backgrounds
Darren Till entered this bout with a 2-0 professional boxing record, headlining a Misfits Boxing event for the second time. In his previous appearance for the promotion in January, Till secured an impressive sixth-round knockout victory against Anthony Taylor. Known in MMA as “The Gorilla,” Till is a former UFC welterweight title challenger who departed the organization in 2022, holding an MMA record of 18-5-1.
Darren Stewart also brings a background from the UFC, where he compiled a record of 5-7 (2 NC). This fight marked his professional boxing debut. His most recent outing in combat sports was a second-round knockout defeat in Cage Warriors in March 2024, which snapped a four-fight winning streak he had built in MMA.
Fight Summary
Following the walkouts and introductions, the fighters met in the center. Till appeared significantly larger than Stewart. The match began with Stewart fighting orthodox and Till southpaw. Stewart immediately advanced, pushing Till back towards the ropes. The early exchanges included clinching and infighting. Till landed a jab followed by a clean left hand and began throwing power shots. Stewart effectively closed the distance, limiting Till`s ability to extend.
Round 1
Mid-round, Till surprised Stewart by stepping forward and landing a looping left hand that bypassed the guard and resulted in a knockdown. Stewart managed to beat the count despite being visibly shaken. Till pursued, attempting to land further shots, but Stewart showed heart by covering up and even firing back. Till primarily sought to land his left hand effectively. Stewart focused on survival and defense for the remainder of the round.
Round 2
Stewart appeared more stable but continued his forward pressure. Till landed a left when backed towards the ropes, but Stewart`s tactic of staying close made the fight somewhat untidy, a style seemingly more beneficial to Stewart than fighting at distance. Till landed a notable counter left hand that Stewart absorbed. Till seemed slightly fixated on landing a knockout blow but continued to land effectively as Stewart absorbed shots. Stewart occasionally switched stances, while Till appeared more deliberate, perhaps conserving energy.
Round 3
Stewart maintained his relentless forward march. Till landed a left but was often pressed against the ropes, showing signs of tiring. Stewart landed effectively during clinches. Till`s footwork seemed minimal, relying on leaning on the ropes and looking for counter knockout opportunities. When Till found space, he landed well, including uppercuts. However, Stewart`s smothering tactics allowed him to land shots along the ropes. Till landed body combinations when space permitted, but Stewart remained incredibly persistent.
Round 4
Stewart charged forward, walking through Till`s attempts to deter him. He landed shots along the ropes. Till began focusing on body shots, landing uppercuts. It seemed Till realized stopping Stewart might be difficult. Stewart remained competitive, landing right hands to Till`s head. A brief pause occurred, seemingly for a low blow, and Till was observed bleeding near his eye. Stewart had a strong round, landing effectively with his pressure.
Round 5
Till attempted to establish his jab to keep Stewart at distance, but Stewart`s pressure persisted, pinning Till to the ropes. Till seemed to find a second wind, working the inside and landing a significant left hand. However, Stewart responded with a powerful right hand that clearly troubled Till, forcing him to cover up. Till`s power seemed diminished, but he adjusted, jabbing and moving. Stewart appeared confident, even smiling. Till landed a strong body uppercut and a left, but Stewart continued his advance, landing his own right hands. They traded blows inside, showing a mutual sense of challenge and even enjoyment.
Round 6
Stewart maintained his approach, while Till initially tried to hold his ground before retreating to the ropes. Stewart worked on the inside, with Till attempting to counter. Till landed lefts, but Stewart stayed close with his right hand. Till increased his defensive posture, covering up more. Despite the early knockdown, Stewart demonstrated remarkable durability. Both fighters showed fatigue but engaged in conversation and appeared to be enjoying the experience despite the physical toll. Stewart`s power also seemed to wane in this round.
Round 7
The later rounds took on a slightly more relaxed feel, resembling a sparring session with reduced power but continued activity from both men. Stewart immediately pushed Till to the ropes. Till tried power shots to create distance but was unsuccessful. Much of the round was spent at close range. Till found opportunities to land to the body when pivoting out, but Stewart quickly closed the gap. Stewart landed a good right hand and continued to wear Till down with relentless pressure and sheer will.
Round 8
Entering the final three minutes, Stewart needed a finish but continued his successful strategy of pressuring Till to the ropes. Till showed renewed urgency, landing a hook and moving more effectively to avoid being trapped. Till was bleeding near his right eye. He landed a sharp left hand as Stewart came in and followed up with a right. Till landed cleanly in this round, connecting with an uppercut and a left hand, but Stewart absorbed everything and maintained his relentless pressure, landing a big right hand of his own. In the closing seconds, as Stewart leaned over near the final bell, Till unleashed a perfectly timed left hand to the temple. The shot sent Stewart staggering and nearly through the ropes. Stewart beat the count before the bell, but the late knockdown solidified the round and the fight for Till.
Post-Fight Comments
After the fight, Darren Till commended Darren Stewart`s toughness, emphasizing that despite the intense battle, they maintained mutual respect. He described Stewart as “one tough, tough bastard,” noting his inability to significantly hurt him despite having knocked out heavier opponents in training. Till then issued a challenge to KSI, stating his willingness to make the required weight and acknowledging KSI`s recent win over Tommy Fury. He also proposed a potential tag-team boxing match involving himself and KSI against the Paul brothers.
