Tony Ferguson got back into the win column for the first time since 2019, defeating Salt Papi in the Misfits Boxing 22 co-main event.

Ferguson came out looking to crowd Papi early, but it was Papi who landed the more impactful shots, including a booming left that buckled the former UFC star’s legs.

Despite things looking a little rough for ‘El Cucuy‘ in the opening round, Ferguson started to fight his timing in the second, connecting with a big left against the ropes. Still, the round was relatively close, potentially leaving Ferguson down 0-2 in their five-rounder.

Determined to end his six-year winless streak, Ferguson turned up the heat in the third, landing a barrage of strikes against the ropes that prompted the referee to step in and call for the stoppage.

Official Result: Tony Ferguson def. Salt Papi via TKO (strikes) at 2:43 of Round 3 to win the pro interim middleweight world championship.

Check out Highlights From Tony Ferguson vs. Salt Papi at Misfits Boxing 22:

Craig Pekios

Craig Pekios is a freelance writer born and raised in Bettendorf, IA. Joining LowKick MMA in May 2022, Craig has more than 4,000 articles published that focus on the world of MMA and boxing, including news, event previews, results, analysis, and op-eds.