Darren ‘The Gorilla’ Till is set to make his crossover-boxing debut against undefeated professional boxer, Tommy Fury at the CO-OP Live arena in Manchester on January 18th.
The name Darren Till is engraved in UK Mixed Martial Arts history as one of the finest talents to ever come out of Merseyside.
Fighting out of Liverpool, Till was a natural. He began practicing Mixed Martial Arts from a young age under the watchful eye of Team Kaobon, a gym well recognised for producing high level MMA fighters. At Kaobon, Till sharpened his tools in Muay Thai, developing his striking fundamentals that would become the strongest aspect of his game.
The Scouser had to deal with a serious life change at the age of just 17 when he was advised by coaches to move to Brazil after a near-fatal stabbing incident in Liverpool.
This decision proved pivotal for the young fighter. While living and training in Balneário Camboriú, ‘The Gorilla’ vastly improved his ground game and embraced the challenges of living a long way from home.
When he returned to Merseyside, he was no longer just an up-and-coming prospect but now a fighter destined for the top.
The welterweight striker made his UFC debut in 2015, representing Liverpool with pride and showcasing a fluid style that blended power, precision and confidence.
After early success, his breakout moment came in 2017 when he dismantled veteran Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone by TKO in the first round.
The victory catapulted Till into the spotlight, earning him a loyal Scouse fan base and being touted as ‘the next Conor McGregor’.
In 2018, the Englishman made history by headlining a UFC event in his hometown, defeating Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in front of the Liverpool crowd at the Echo Arena.
This was the first UFC event to be held in Merseyside, with Till being trusted to headline it really showed his level of star power at the time.
The win over ‘Wonderboy’ set him up for a shot at UFC gold against Tyron Woodley.
Although he fell short by a second round brabo choke in his bid for gold, the fight proved that Till belonged among the sport’s top athletes.
Since the fight against Woodley, the 31-year-old has had an up and down career with losses to Jorge Masvidal by KO, Robert Whittaker by decision and being finished by both Derek Brunson and Dricus Du Plessis combined with recurring knee injuries, slowing his progress at the top of the division.
Despite the setbacks, the Liverpudlian never lost the support of his fanbase or the hunger that made him a star.
In early 2023, the middleweight announced his decision to part ways with the UFC and make the move to boxing.
While some saw the move as a shock, many weren’t surprised as the southpaw had always been a striking expert, and boxing presented a new challenge.
The opportunity to face Tommy Fury, an undefeated professional boxer and reality TV star, was too enticing to turn down.
Scheduled for early 2025, the fight against ‘TNT’ is shaping up to be one of the biggest bouts in influencer boxing.
Fury, riding high off victories over the faces of influencer boxing in both Jake Paul and KSI, is the clear favourite. However, the striking pedigree of Till make him a formidable opponent.
The build-up has been electric, with the former UFC title challenger bringing his signature confidence to the press conference and calling out Fury’s inexperience against ‘real’ fighters.
Fans of ‘The Gorilla’ at home in Liverpool are eagerly awaiting the bout, viewing it as a now or never moment for the fighter to get his career back on track.
Till’s career has consisted of setbacks, injuries and reinvention. Now, as he prepares to enter the uncharted territory of the world of influencer boxing to face Tommy Fury, the stakes are higher than ever.
