August 30, 2025, in Manchester, Tony Ferguson, who used to be the UFC’s interim lightweight champion, won his first professional boxing match at Misfits Boxing 22 by TKO in the third round against social media star Salt Papi. The win was Ferguson’s first in more than six years, snapping an eight-fight losing streak and bringing him back to the spotlight of combat fanatics in a positive way.
Tony Ferguson’s Long-Awaited Return to Victory
Ferguson hadn’t won a fight since June 2019, when he beat Donald Cerrone at UFC 238. Since then, the veteran fighter has lost a series of fights, several of which were against top-tier UFC fighters. His decline became one of the most talked-about downfalls in mixed martial arts, with critics wondering if the 41-year-old should keep fighting.
Tony Ferguson moved to the Misfits Boxing platform, which gave him a new place to work at and at the same time he didn’t have to worry about being in the UFC championship race. Some people thought the fight with Salt Papi, who is better known for his internet following than his athletic background, was a mismatch, but it was an ideal opportunity for Ferguson to reset the trajectory of his career.
Methodical and Measured Performance
Tony Ferguson stayed calm during the bout and relied on his fundamental striking skills instead of trying to overwhelm his opponent right away. Salt Papi set the pace in the opening two rounds by throwing sharper strikes and moving more smoothly. Ferguson, on the other hand, stayed calm and kept the pressure on.
The third round was the turning point. Ferguson hit Salt Papi with a series of clean right hands, forcing him into the corner. The referee stepped in after Ferguson hit a lot of unanswered shots, giving him the TKO win. A number of critics online argued over the stoppage, but it was evident that Ferguson was leading, and Salt Papi seemed unable to defend himself properly.
With this win, Ferguson also claimed the Misfits Boxing interim middleweight title, adding a symbolic reward to an already meaningful night.
Emotional Post-Fight Response
Tony Ferguson stated after the fight that he was nervous heading into it. He said, “It felt like the first day of school.” “But I had to do it for myself.” He thanked his team and supporters for helping him stay focused through years of failures and self-doubt.
The way the audience reacted showed how much respect Ferguson still has among fight fans.
A New Chapter, Not the End
Some people thought this would be Ferguson’s last fight, but he made it clear that he isn’t done yet. He said he wanted to keep fighting for Misfits Boxing and even teased a possible future fight against Dillon Danis, another crossover fighter who was also on the Misfits 22 card.
It is not certain if Ferguson will come back to mixed martial arts. This performance, on the other hand, showed that he is still competitive, driven, and psychologically strong, which had seemed to be missing in his last few UFC fights.
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