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Darren Till, Salt Papi: Ranking the top five Misfits Boxing debuts
Misfits returns for its 22nd instalment this weekend with a talent-stacked card in Manchester featuring former UFC stars Darren Till and Luke Rockhold facing off and a UFC legend, Tony Ferguson, versus Misfits favourite Salt Papi.
Ferguson and Rockhold will be hoping to claim statement wins in their debut against two of Misfits' best.
Fighters roll in and out of the Misfits roster, but some arrived with an unforgettable performance that immortalised them in the history of influencer boxing.
Here is a ranking of the five best Misfits Boxing debuts ahead of the introduction of Luke Rockhold and Tony Ferguson.
5. Slim Albaher
Slim made his Misfits arrival in August 2022, taking on Faze Temper on the undercard of the very first Misfits show.
This was the American’s fourth fight in influencer boxing, and he was so far undefeated against lower-level opposition.
The match-up was almost perfect in size and experience, but little did the spectators know it would be a performance that would arguably steal the show from the co-founder, KSI.
From the first bell, Slim appeared to be the far more well-rounded boxer, never exposing himself as a static target and throwing sharp feints.
Slim got the better of the first round, landing a couple of straight right hands that snapped back the head of Faze Temper.
As the second round rolled on, Slim continued to land eye-catching shots but allowed Temper to push him back, giving him opportunities to get back into the fight.
Then, almost out of nowhere, with less than a minute left in the round, Slim rolled under the southpaw left hand of Temper and uncoiled a right hand that wobbled the famous gamer, forcing him to find the support of the ropes.
Slim followed up, unloading wild hooks and found the target with the fight-ending shot. A right hook just as Temper dropped his hands to throw, and a counter shot rounded off a stunning debut performance.
4. Jay Swingler
Popular UK YouTuber Jay Swingler made his debut as the main event of the second instalment of Misfits, taking on American comedy influencer Cherdleys.
Swingler was making a comeback to influencer boxing after losing to Aneson Gib on the undercard of KSI vs Joe Weller in 2018 and promised a new and improved fighter. He more than delivered in devastating fashion.
It was abundantly clear from the get-go that Swingler had invested the time in getting himself traditionally schooled.
Cherdleys threw awkwardly with his chin high and caught a heavy jab that dropped him less than a minute into the round.
Swingler saw his opportunity to close the show, as Cherdleys looked like he wanted to be anywhere other than the ring.
A swift one-two left Cherdleys frozen on his feet, and Swingler followed up with a further three shots that nearly sent the American through the ropes – not even halfway through the first round.
3. Deen the Great
Deen the Great is one of a small number of boxers on Misfits that is a high-level athlete with natural ability, who has invested the hours into transforming into a boxer with genuine potential.
He also made his debut on the first-ever Misfits card in 2022 against comedy influencer Evil Hero.
Not much was known about Deen the Great before his debut, but he put on a display of blistering hand speed and power that was the springboard for him to eventually become a Misfits Boxing champion.
Deen the Great immediately put his skills on show, using impressive footwork and head movement to avoid the incoming wild shots from Evil Hero.
Evil Hero suffered a knockdown exchanging jabs with Deen the Great, whose power was there for all to see.
He got to his feet but was shortly back on the canvas as Deen the Great landed a pair of right hands off an impressive pull counter.
The fight came to an end after a third knockdown in the first round, and Deen the Great proved he was one to watch – overcoming Evil Hero despite a disadvantage in experience.
It could have been the perfect debut, but in celebrating his breakout victory, he face-planted while attempting a backflip.
2. Salt Papi
The first Misfits card was the night of epic debuts, as the fan favourite Salt Papi announced himself on the scene with one of the fastest knockouts in Misfits history.
He came into the bout with one victory under his belt against Halal Ham earlier that year, where he impressed with his skillset – enough to land himself a spot on the inaugural Misfits show.
Papi came up against the Canadian YouTuber Andy Warski and blitzed his opponent in 15 seconds.
Warski, unfortunately, looked as if he had not even seen a boxing ring before, standing square on with his hands in front of his face.
Salt Papi walked his man down with a confidence bordering on arrogance that would turn out to be more than justified.
He ended the fight as quickly as it had started, knocking out Warski with the first punches he landed. Four thumping hooks to the head saw Warski plummet to the canvas, and the referee, seeing a dangerous mismatch, called off the fight after the knockdown.
1. Darren Till
Darren Till’s first fight with Misfits saw a tangible step up in the quality of fighters who would appear on the promotion.
As a former UFC prospect, he has plenty of striking experience and could only be matched against someone else with similar experience.
He took on Anthony Taylor, who had a mixed record as a boxer but had faced and gone the distance with Tommy Fury. He would, however, prove no challenge to Till.
Till boxed with impressive discipline and to an obvious game plan of drawing Taylor into range and landing the rear uppercut on the shorter man.
The Liverpudlian displayed his pedigree, landing with impressive variation, and dropped Taylor in the fourth round with a clean uppercut.
Till was in cruise control, unbothered by anything coming back his way, and in the sixth round it was déjà vu as Till dropped Taylor again with the same shot, which looked to be the end of the fight as the American fell onto his back.
He bravely rose to his feet, but had not learned his lesson – finding himself on the end of another uppercut, but this time Till went through the gears and knocked Taylor down for the final time to punctuate a stellar debut.
Misfits X Series 22 on Saturday only on DAZN PPV
Watch Darren Till vs. Luke Rockhold, Tony Ferguson vs Salt Papi and Dillon Danis, Joey Essex and more fight only on DAZN PPV, this Saturday night, August 30.
