We are just weeks away from Misfits 20, set for January 18th, and some shocking news has just dropped: Tommy Fury has pulled out of his highly anticipated fight against Darren Till. Now, pullouts in boxing happen all the time, but the reason Tommy Fury has given for stepping away is truly embarrassing and raises a lot of questions.

This morning, Tommy posted an announcement on his Instagram saying he’s no longer fighting Darren Till because, according to him, Darren had threatened to “kick him in the head” during their boxing match. Yes, you heard that right. Tommy Fury, a professional boxer, is pulling out of a fight because he’s concerned that his opponent, a former UFC fighter, might use MMA tactics like kicking.

To put it simply: this reason is utterly ridiculous.

First of all, Tommy’s reasoning makes no sense at all. This is the same Tommy Fury who has spoken multiple times about using elbows in the ring during his fight with KSI, and now he’s worried about a kick? It’s laughable. Tommy also knows that if Darren Till tried any MMA moves like kicking or grappling in the ring, it would break every rule in professional boxing. So, claiming he’s pulling out because Darren “might kick him” feels more like a poor excuse than a legitimate reason.

The truth behind Tommy’s decision to pull out seems to be far more strategic. It’s likely that Tommy, or his management (including his father, John Fury), is trying to avoid the fight altogether. Tommy has a history of trying to push for better deals or opportunities by manipulating situations, and this could very well be one of those instances.

Darren Till, on the other hand, has been fully committed to this fight. He’s been putting in the work in the gym, taking this challenge seriously. Till had even joked at the press conference about kicking Tommy in the head, but anyone with common sense would know it was just trash talk. For Tommy to now use that as an excuse to pull out is not only disrespectful to Darren, but it’s also an insult to the fans who were excited to see this matchup.

Darren Till himself wasn’t having it. He responded by calling Tommy a “coward” and saying that he knew Tommy would pull out from the fight, even from the press conference. Darren made it clear that he had no intention of kicking Tommy in the head; it was all part of the mental warfare leading up to the fight. But Tommy, apparently unable to handle the heat, has chosen to back out with an excuse that no one believes.

What’s even worse is the impact this decision has on the entire Misfits 20 event. Tommy Fury was the main draw of this card. By pulling out now, he’s not only leaving Darren Till in limbo but also putting the entire event at risk. Promoters, other fighters, and fans are all left in a state of confusion, with only a few weeks left to find a suitable replacement opponent for Darren.

At the end of the day, Tommy Fury’s pullout, and the flimsy excuse behind it, is not just damaging to his own reputation but to the entire event. He had an opportunity to prove himself as a legitimate fighter, but instead, he’s opted for a cowardly and embarrassing move that leaves us all questioning his true motivations. Whether he’s scared of the fight or trying to leverage a better deal, one thing is clear: this is a terrible look for Tommy Fury and for boxing in general.

So, what’s next for Darren Till and Misfits 20? It’s unclear at this point, but one thing we do know is that Tommy Fury’s actions have left everyone wondering what went wrong, and it’s hard to take his excuses seriously.