Tony Ferguson to Defend Misfits Boxing Title vs. Spencer

Tony Ferguson, the former UFC interim lightweight champion, faces Warren Spencer in the main event of Misfits Boxing 23 on Saturday in Dubai, defending his interim middleweight title in a bout that could position the winner for a unification clash with reigning champion AnEsonGib.

The fight headlines a card set to begin at 1 p.m. ET, with Ferguson entering as a heavy favorite at -580 odds according to Tapology, while Spencer sits as a +355 underdog. Ferguson, known as "El Cucuy," brings a wealth of mixed martial arts experience to the ring, including victories over Kevin Lee, Edson Barboza, and Anthony Pettis during his UFC tenure. His professional boxing resume is limited, but he secured the interim title with a third-round technical knockout over influencer Nathaniel Bustamante, known as Salt Papi, in August. That win marked Ferguson's first victory in combat sports since 2019, snapping an eight-fight losing streak that led to his release from the UFC.

Spencer, nicknamed "The Mechanic," holds a 3-2 record across professional and exhibition boxing matches. His most recent outing came in December, when he knocked out Sladan Janjanin in the second round. The matchup represents...