Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson does not seem to be confident this month in his boxing skills for his debut in the sport.
While Ferguson's record loses that Skid lost in the UFC many who want to see him pick up the gloves, the old favorite of the fans to continue his career of the Octagon.
And the first step in his career outside the cage comes on August 30, when Ferguson Co-Headlines Macfits Boxing 22 in Manchester, an event that will end with Darren to USA. Luke Rockhold in the main event.
The pro-box debut of the 41-year-old comes against Tiktok-Star Pugilistic Salt Papi, who has gone 6-2 against fellow internet personalities since he joined Boxing's Crossover-Rage in 2022.
Tony Ferguson admits that his boxing is 'sloppy' prior to the first NA-PUC fight
Ferguson will enter his first trip into the ring of the back of a terrible run that brought his UFC official period to an end. 'El Cucuy' has lost eight consecutive fights since a victory over Donald Cerrone in 2019 tied him up with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the second longest series in UFC Lightweight History.
In his last fight before he was released, Ferguson was submitted by Michael Chiesa in one round on a UFC fighting evening in Abu Dhabi. That result will not be repeated in the new veteran company, but it does not seem as if the American can be trusted in his hands.
Speaking against Inside Fighting for his first fight in a year, Ferguson made a worrying recognition about where his boxing level is less than two weeks from Fight Night.
“Probably a two,” Ferguson said when he was asked to judge his boxing skills on a scale of one to 10.
“I still learn this -you know? I am so sloppy and everything else. … I still learn the game. I am here like a blue ribbon.
“I can't bull -I can't lie” added Ferguson. “Boxing has always been in my blood, it's something I always wanted to do.”
Salt Papi had three other UFC veterans on his opponent 'list'
Before Ferguson received the call for Co-Headline Misfits Boxing 22, it seems that the promotion had tried to place his opponent three different names from the MMA world.
Salt Papi unveiled three other UFC veterans on his list of potential enemies for the August card – Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis and Mike Perry.
“Tony is a legendary hunter and I was shocked when he accepted the fight,” Salt Papi told Fred Talks Fighting. “I did not expect that he, such a big name, gave me the chance to fight.
“I am not sure if they rejected it, maybe they were just busy, but I had people on the list such as Anthony Pettis, Mike Perry, Nate Diaz.
“All the big names actually, and mom told me that Tony wants to fight, so that's it,” he added. “We can always visit or fight a professional boxer again.”