KSI vs Jake Paul

KSI vs Jake Paul is a proposed professional crossover boxing match contested between YouTubers KSI and Jake Paul. If the fight occurs, it is expected to take place at Wembley Stadium in London, England.^[3]

Background

2018–2019: KSI's initial call out of Paul

On 3 February 2018, KSI fought fellow YouTuber Joe Weller at the Copper Box Arena in London, defeating him via technical knockout in the 3rd round.^[4] On the night, KSI called out Jake Paul, his older brother Logan Paul, and retired footballer Rio Ferdinand.^[5] After constant back and forth, it was scheduled that KSI would fight Logan Paul and Jake Paul would fight Deji Olatunji, KSI's younger brother, at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England on 25 August. On the night, Jake Paul won via technical knockout in the 5th round and KSI vs Logan Paul ended in a majority draw.^[6] On 9 November 2019, a professional rematch was heled at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in which KSI defeated Logan Paul via split decision.^[7]

2020–2021: Paul's professional debut and COVID-19 pandemic

On 30 January 2020, Paul made his professional debut against fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib as the co-feature to the WBO world middleweight title bout between professional boxers Demetrius Andrade and Luke Keeler, in which he won via technical knockout in the 1st round.^[8] After the fight, KSI and Paul exchanged words on stage.^[9] KSI and Paul were then expected to face each other. However on 23 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first national lockdown in the United Kingdom in responds to the COVID-19 pandemic which prevented KSI from being able to train for the bout.^[10] In the United States however, the restrictions were not as severe, thus allowing Paul to continue his boxing career.

On 28 November, Paul fought and defeated retired NBA player Nate Robinson via knockout in the 2nd round.^[11] On 17 April 2021, Paul defeated retired professional mixed martial artists in Ben Askren via knockout in the 1st round.^[12] Paul then faced retired professional mixed martial artists Tyron Woodley twice. Once on 29 August, defeating him via split decision and second, on 18 December via knockout in the 6th round.^[13][14]

2022–present: KSI's return to boxing and Tommy Fury intervention

On 27 August 2022, KSI returned to boxing after a three year hiatus in an MF–professional bout.^[15] Originally, KSI was scheduled to face fellow YouTuber Alex Wassabi, but was cancelled after Wassabi sustained a concussion.^[16] Paul immediately took it to Twitter to call out KSI and offer him as his Wassabi's replacement. KSI declined his offer. On 8 August however, KSI tweeted an offer to Paul stating that they will fight in 2023 at Wembley Stadium with the winner taking 100% of the purse made from the event.^{[‡ 1][3]} Paul accepted the deal.^{[‡ 2]} On the night, KSI fought and defeated rapper Swarmz via knockout in the 2nd round and professional boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda via knockout in the 3rd round.^[17]

On 14 January 2023, KSI fought and defeated Brazilian YouTuber FaZe Temperrr via knockout in the 1st round and immediately called out Paul.^[18] On 26 February, Paul fought professional boxer Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia and lost via split decision.^[19] After the bout, KSI's manager and Misfits Boxing co-president Mams Taylor, revealed that Paul's team had decided that they no longer wish to have a bout with KSI in August, instead choosing a bout with Nate Diaz, in which he won via unanimous decision.^[20] On 13 May, KSI fought professional boxer Joe Fournier and originally won via a controversial knockout in the 2nd round, but was later overruled to a no contest due to an unintentional elbow strike.^[21] After the bout, KSI shared a stare down with Paul's former opponent Fury.^[21] On 14 October, KSI fought Paul's former opponent Fury, and lost via unanimous decision.^[22] On 16 December, both KSI and Paul were active. Paul fought and defeated professional boxer Andre August via knockout in the 1st round while KSI and fellow YouTuber IShowSpeed held a charity spar for the Anthony Walker Foundation at the exact same time.^[23][24]

Notes

See also

• KSI vs Logan Paul
  • Rematch

References

Primary sources

In the text these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

External links