The professional boxing debut of controversial influencer Andrew Tate this Saturday in Dubai has been overshadowed by a significant undercard controversy. Indian fighter Arun Antil, scheduled to compete in the opening bout, is currently serving an indefinite ban from the sport, according to official records.
Main Event Drama and Undercard Shake-Up
Andrew Tate is set to face reigning Misfits Boxing heavyweight champion Chase DeMoor in the headline event at the Misfits Boxing show in Dubai on Saturday, 20th December 2025. However, the build-up has been far from smooth. The card has already seen one major change, with Dillon Danis forced to withdraw from his Misfits MMA light-heavyweight title defence against Anthony Taylor due to injury.
Danis sustained his injuries during a physical altercation involving teammates of Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 in New York last month. Anthony Taylor will remain on the card, now facing replacement opponent Neeraj Goyat.
The Banned Boxer Set to Compete
The most startling development involves undercard fighter Arun Antil. The 27-year-old Indian boxer is booked to face undefeated Kazakh prospect Sultan Babakhanov in the night's opening contest. Despite this, BoxRec lists Antil as "indefinitely suspended" by the Australian National Boxing Federation (ANBF).
This situation is possible because Misfits Boxing, the promotion founded by KSI, Wasserman Boxing and Mams Taylor, does not operate under a single, permanent global sanctioning body. The organisation has frequently switched governing bodies for its events, meaning Antil's suspension in Australia does not automatically prevent him from fighting under a different jurisdiction in Dubai.
Antil's Rocky Road and a Formidable Opponent
Arun Antil, born in Assawarpur, India, began his professional career in 2018. His record has been mixed, featuring spells of success and difficulty. After a debut win, he suffered his first defeat in his third fight against Manish Harode. He then strung together five consecutive victories before back-to-back losses in 2019 to Dylan Emery and John Mannu—both fights taking place in Australia.
Following two more wins, Antil endured a tough run of four straight defeats. However, he comes into this fight on a positive streak, having won his last four bouts, including a first-round knockout of Peerayos Bumrung in May 2025.
He faces a formidable challenge in Sultan Babakhanov. The 22-year-old Kazakh, who resides in Dubai, enjoyed a stellar amateur career and has transitioned seamlessly to the professional ranks. He scored a vicious knockout on his debut in June 2025 and needed just over two minutes to finish his second opponent in November.
The inclusion of a boxer under an international suspension raises questions about regulatory oversight in the growing influencer boxing scene, casting a shadow over Tate's much-hyped entry into the Misfits ring.
