Darren TIll has revealed how his unexpected fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was made.
Former UFC welterweight title contender Till will transition to boxing for his professional debut against former WBC world middleweight champion Chavez Jr on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The six-round bout will be contested at cruiserweight with a 190-pound weight limit. Till, 31, amassed an 18-5-1 record in MMA. Despite a challenging UFC stint, including a loss to current champion Dricus du Plessis, Till remains determined.
Facing Chavez J., whose lineage is synonymous with boxing greatness as the son of Julio Cesar Chavez adds some extra intrigue. Chavez Jr, 38, aims to revitalise his career after notable setbacks against elite competition.
Speaking to the MMA Hour, he revealed how the fight was made.
“They literally just came to me with the fight, with the name, the promotion, the venue, in my eyes the exposure that the event is going to bring to any fighter, as a fighter, you can’t turn an opportunity like this down.
“Netflix, Texas, Jake Paul, Katie Taylor in my opinion the best female boxer ever. It’s madness. They offered Julio Cesar Chavez to me and I’m going to knock him flat in three rounds. Let’s get it straight right now. And then I’m going to fight Jake Paul after it.”
For his part, Chavez has said he is just as excited to return to the ring.
“I’m excited to return to the ring after some time off, and I’m motivated and eager to reestablish myself as one of the greats. I was the first Mexican middleweight champion in the history of Mexico and want to prove that I can again become a champion. My return to the ring at this historic event is an honor. On Saturday, July 20, I’m going to win by KO and continue my journey.”
This fight has been added to the undercard of Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which will be shown as the first live sports broadcast on Netflix in July.
Many onlookers are worried about the safety of both fighters in this contest with Paul being a young but still rather inexperienced boxer with no amateur background, and Tyson being a former undisputed heavyweight who is now fast approaching 60 and has reported ill health in the past.
It will be a fully professional contest with no headboards and small gloves, which only adds to the worries. Also on the undercard is the much-anticipated rematch of the undisputed fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano after Taylor won their first fight.
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