Darren Till, a former UFC welterweight contender, claimed a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over UFC veteran Darren Stewart at Misfits Boxing 21 on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Vaillant Arena in Derby, England. The eight-round cruiserweight bout, streamed on DAZN, captivated fans with Till’s precision and Stewart’s relentless pressure.
Till’s win, scored 77-74, 77-74, and 77-73, improved his boxing record to 3-0, including two professional fights and one exhibition. Stewart, making his boxing debut, fell to 0-1 but earned respect for his durability.
The fight’s climax came in the eighth round, when Till landed a straight left that rocked Stewart, securing a crucial knockdown just before the final bell.
Till’s Boxing Journey Meets Stewart’s Resilience
Till opened the fight aggressively, landing crisp punches to test Stewart’s chin. Stewart responded with forward pressure, making the early rounds competitive.
By the third round, Stewart found success trapping Till against the ropes, bloodying his nose with a sharp right hand. Till appeared fatigued but stayed composed.
The middle rounds saw both fighters exchange heavy blows, with Stewart’s body shots answered by Till’s selective left hands. The Derby crowd roared as the bout intensified.
In the sixth round, Till regained momentum, using footwork to evade Stewart’s charges. Stewart, undeterred, landed a jab that briefly stunned Till.
Darren Till DROPS Darren Stewart in round one!!! 😱#XSeries21 | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/weqFH8OzJB
— MF & DAZN X Series (@MF_DAZNXSeries) May 16, 2025
The last seconds of Darren Till vs. Darren Stewart 😱😱😱#XSeries21 | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/4Nnxjhdjb8
— MF & DAZN X Series (@MF_DAZNXSeries) May 16, 2025
The seventh round remained close, with Stewart’s aggression countered by Till’s cleaner strikes. Both men showed heart, refusing to back down.
In the eighth, Till sealed the victory with a perfectly timed straight left, dropping Stewart as the bell rang, ensuring the judges’ nod.
This is why Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are running from Darren Till pic.twitter.com/gxhgc1zrv1
— Moslee (@thefan763922) May 16, 2025
Till’s MMA career began in 2013, culminating in a UFC welterweight title shot against Tyron Woodley in 2018. He left the UFC in 2022 with an 18-5-1 record after a loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
His boxing journey started with a second-round TKO over Mohammad Mutie in a July 2024 exhibition, followed by a sixth-round TKO against Anthony Taylor in January 2025.
Stewart, a former UFC light heavyweight, competed from 2016 to 2021, earning a 5-7 record with two no-contests. His MMA record stands at 16-10 with two no-contests.
The Vaillant Arena event, attended by about 1,600 fans, featured Ty Mitchell’s TKO win over Idris Virgo for the Misfits light heavyweight title, adding to the night’s excitement.
After the fight, Till applauded Stewart’s grit, calling him a “tough bastard.” He then turned his attention to future matchups, directly challenging KSI at ringside and also naming Jake Paul, Logan Paul, Mike Perry, and Jorge Masvidal as potential opponents.
