As Misfits Boxing 22 serves to fill a brief void left by UFC, fans of combat sports still get plenty of entertainment this weekend. Tony Ferguson will once again showcase his transition from mixed martial arts (MMA) to boxing; rival Nathaniel Bustamante known by fans as Salt Papi may rethink some of their earlier claims of bragging.
Recently on Fred Talks Fighting, Salt Papi’s confidence quickly dissipated as tension returned. Responding to comments regarding his health, Papi confirmed his recovery from an illness last month while hinting towards readiness for his forthcoming fight with Ferguson. But once Ferguson was mentioned and Salt Papi expressed some level of unease when discussing him due to their formidable reputation – his attempt at humor failed miserably in disguising any nerves which may have surfaced; suggesting Ferguson alone could cause enough discomfort for Salt Papi to feel unease within him!
Ferguson, for his part, carries into boxing the same ferocity that made him a standout figure in MMA. Despite exiting the UFC on a streak of losses, the 41-year-old sees this transition as a thrilling new journey. In a conversation with Ariel Helwani, he shared his excitement about engaging in a sport that presents new challenges and opportunities, distinct from his UFC career.
The narrative around their clash is compelling, painting Ferguson as a battle-hardened veteran and Salt Papi as the charismatic newcomer. The dynamics of their confrontation became even more evident during a pre-fight press conference in London, where Ferguson noted Salt Papi’s reluctance to repeat his bold predictions face-to-face.
Beyond boxing, Ferguson hasn’t completely disowned an MMA comeback. He showed an interest in potentially engaging Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov as potential UFC opponents; an indication of unfinished chapters in his career that may remain open-ended. Although opportunities didn’t pan out immediately, Ferguson continues to focus on these two as key steppingstones to return.
As fight night nears without UFC action, Ferguson and Salt Papi look set to put on an exciting contest. While Ferguson looks for redemption against Salt Papi’s bravado, fans await whether El Cucuy can channel his signature intensity into an effective boxing debut win.