Boxing Match Preview: Darren Till (2-0-0, 1 KO) vs. Luke Rockhold (0-1-0, 0 KOs)
Fight Details
Venue: AO Arena, Manchester, England
Title: Inaugural Misfits Boxing Bridgerweight Title (224 lbs limit)
Rounds: 8 (originally scheduled for 6)
Broadcast: DAZN PPV — Main card ~1:00 PM ET / Ring walks ~6:00 PM BST
Fighter Profiles
Darren Till — “The Gorilla”
Record: 2‑0‑0 (1 KO) in boxing
Age: 32
Stance: Southpaw
Background: Former UFC welterweight title challenger (2018), notable MMA wins over Stephen Thompson and Donald Cerrone.
Boxing Form:
Jan 2025 — Stopped Anthony Taylor in 6 rounds.
May 2025 — Dropped Darren Stewart twice en route to points win.
Style: Sharp left hand, patient counter‑puncher, comfortable in mid‑range exchanges.
Mindset: Says he’s “buzzing” to fight Rockhold, vowing a first‑round knockout.
Luke Rockhold — “Rocky”
Record: 0‑1‑0 in boxing
Age: 40
Stance: Southpaw
Background: Former UFC middleweight champion (2015), ex‑Strikeforce champion.
Combat Sports Since UFC:
BKFC 41 (2023) — Stopped by Mike Perry.
Karate Combat 45 — Beat Joe Schilling.
Style: Tall, rangy southpaw; prefers to work behind a jab and straight left.
Mindset: Claims Till “doesn’t belong” in the ring with him, promising to expose him.
Form & Momentum
Till: Active in 2025, 2 wins already this year; sharper timing and conditioning.
Rockhold: First boxing bout since BKFC loss; questions over ring rust and punch resistance.
Keys to Victory
Till:
Control distance with lead right hand and feints.
Target Rockhold’s body early to slow movement.
Force exchanges in the pocket where his timing can land clean counters.
Rockhold:
Use height/reach to keep Till outside.
Clinch and smother when Till closes distance.
Make it a slower‑paced fight to conserve energy.
Betting Notes
X‑Factor: Rockhold’s size and southpaw stance could trouble Till early if he establishes the jab.
Likely Outcome: Till’s sharper hands and recent activity give him the edge, but Rockhold’s durability in early rounds will decide if it’s a quick finish or a drawn‑out points win.
What’s at Stake
Winner becomes inaugural Misfits Bridgerweight champion.
For Till: Keeps momentum toward a potential PPV fight with Tommy Fury.
For Rockhold: A win rebrands him as a legitimate crossover boxing threat.
FIGHT ODDS
Darren Till – 1000
Luke Rockhold + 850
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, August 29, 2025
