Controversial internet personality Andrew Tate steps into the boxing ring for the first time tonight, headlining Misfits Mania in Dubai against the promotion's reigning heavyweight champion, Chase DeMoor. The bout, scheduled for Friday, 20 December 2025, has been shrouded in dispute long before the first bell, with several unusual stipulations in the fight rules causing significant friction.
Pre-Fight Tensions Over Rules and Stipulations
The lead-up to this highly-anticipated influencer boxing match has been dominated by arguments over the contest's specific regulations. Chase DeMoor, a former reality television star and a veteran of six influencer boxing matches this year alone, has publicly expressed his frustration with terms he believes favour his opponent.
A primary point of contention is the weight limit. Unlike standard heavyweight contests, this fight will be contested at a strict 200lb limit. This is the upper threshold for the cruiserweight division, not heavyweight. DeMoor has claimed that Tate demanded this limit, accusing him of trying to force a weight-draining disadvantage. Despite the complaints, both fighters successfully made the weight at Thursday's official weigh-in.
Another disputed rule is the number of rounds. Tate insisted on a six-round fight, which is highly irregular for a championship contest, even for the Misfits belt. Typical professional title fights are scheduled for longer durations of eight, ten, or twelve rounds. The rounds themselves, however, will be the full three minutes in length, not the shortened two-minute rounds sometimes seen in influencer boxing events.
Gloves, Scoring, and Knockout Potential
While no official announcement has been made regarding glove size, it is expected that both men will wear either 14oz or 16oz gloves, which is standard for many influencer boxing matches. These larger, more padded mitts are designed to offer more protection than the 10oz or 12oz gloves used in professional bouts, theoretically reducing the risk of severe, long-term damage. A side effect can be that knockouts become less frequent.
Nevertheless, knockouts are fully permitted, and both combatants have vowed to stop the other within the scheduled six rounds. If the fight goes the full 18-minute distance, the result will be determined by three ringside judges employing the traditional 10-point must scoring system.
DeMoor has already cast doubt on the judging, suggesting that "boxing politics" in Tate's adopted city of Dubai might prevent him from getting a fair decision if the fight goes to the scorecards.
Background of the Fighters
Andrew Tate brings a legitimate combat sports pedigree to the ring, having been a four-time world champion in kickboxing before his retirement from that sport five years ago. However, this marks his first official foray into boxing under any recognised rule set.
Chase DeMoor, the reigning Misfits Boxing heavyweight champion, represents the new wave of influencer fighters. His experience in the boxing ring this year far surpasses Tate's, making him a seasoned veteran of this specific spectacle-driven format. He faces arguably his most famous and divisive opponent to date in Tate, whose online notoriety has made him one of the most discussed figures globally.
The clash promises to be a major event in the influencer boxing calendar, blending legitimate athletic background with modern-day celebrity controversy under a set of rules that has already guaranteed a heated build-up.
