Ferguson defends Misfits Boxing title against Olympic wrestler Sebie after Biyong withdraws four days out

Tony Ferguson’s Misfits Boxing middleweight title defence has a new opponent after Kenzo Biyong withdrew on Tuesday — just four days before Saturday’s card at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. Misfits Boxing confirmed that former Olympic wrestler Mahmoud Sebie will step in as the replacement challenger.

Biyong’s withdrawal was attributed to “travel complications,” leaving organisers scrambling to find a late substitute. Sebie, who represented Egypt in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had previously attempted to switch allegiances to Team USA before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 Games, after which he retired from wrestling competition. He has also competed in combat sports under the RAF banner, suffering a tech fall loss to Zahid Valencia at RAF 6.

Ferguson, a longtime UFC lightweight contender, claimed the Misfits Boxing middleweight title through an interim belt win over Salt Papi and a subsequent championship victory over Warren Spencer. His most recent outing came in June, when he lost via tech fall to Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 10, making Saturday’s defence his return to the boxing ring.

The wider card is headlined by former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who makes his professional boxing debut against Most Valuable Promotions prospect and actor Wanna Walton.