KSI returns to the ring tonight in a bid to prove he’s the ruler in the YouTube boxing space – but the event has not been without its twists and turns.
The British social media, rap and prizefighting star faces TWO opponents on the night of his comeback, this Saturday.
KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – last boxed in November 2019 against Logan Paul.
They had drawn in a white collar bout a year earlier and then raised eyebrows when Eddie Hearn turned them professional for their rematch.
KSI, 28, ran out a winner by scrappy split-decision after Paul, 27, hit him on the deck and got a two point dedication.
A lot has happened since then, for example KSI and Paul are now friends and even own an energy drink together called Prime.
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And KSI took a break from boxing to focus on music, releasing two albums and headlining at Wembley.
This is all while Paul’s brother Jake went 5-0 as a boxer and emerged as the most accomplished celebrity fighter.
It also provided KSI’s main motivation for returning to boxing, eyeing a grudge match with his American nemesis.
He told talkSPORT: “Jake Paul – that’s the main goal, that’s the only reason I came back.”
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KSI’s plan appears simple; return to boxing after three years out, brush off some cobwebs and return for a mega-fight with Jake.
And he was not short of rivals offering their services to welcome KSI back to the squared circle.
But, after such a long period out, and a blockbuster bout with Jake on the cards, picking his return fight was a delicate operation.
Initially, KSI was matched with Alex Wassabi, a bout which had legs and made sense.
Wassabi had beaten KSI’s brother Deji in March and he’s advised by Jake, creating a sellable narrative.
But disaster struck just weeks out from the DAZN pay-per-view as Wassabi withdrew, leaving KSI without an opponent.
What followed was an online back-and-forth between KSI and Jake, who had offered to step in on late notice.
Several insults later and KSI appeared to snub the deal and claimed he would fight his arch rival next year at Wembley.
The Brit then announced rapper Swarmz – who in 2020 he collaborated on a song with – would be his shock replacement opponent.
That was baring in mind Swarmz – real name Brandon Scott – has never laced up a pair of gloves.
Although he did once say on Instagram: “I’m going to smoke this guy – watch, I’m a mad man.”
Despite Swarmz’s promise, the backlash from fans was so intense KSI reacted by organising another opponent to fight on the same night.
He announced Bulgarian boxer Ivan Nikolov would fight him later on after Swarmz, an unprecedented move to say the least.
But Nikolov then had to be withdrawn after it emerged he had neo-Nazi tattoos, forcing KSI to even sack his matchmaker.
He said: “He’s a white supremacist Ivan isn’t my opponent anymore. He has been removed.
“The matchmaker also got fired for allowing this to happen in the first place. But yes, my new opponent is Luis Alcarez Pineda.”
So out with Nikolov and in with 2-5 Pineda, a Mexican who was in March beaten on points and made his debut at welterweight.
But Pineda will have to jump up in weight to fight KSI at 185lb, which is 10lb off the light-heavyweight limit.
KSI revealed he has spent the last three years training in secret under the guidance of the London Shootfighters team.
A glimpse at his open workout is evidence that his hand speed, punch technique and footwork has improved.
And KSI has also vowed to ditch his wild, erratic style for a more reformed and traditional form of boxing.
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So all that has come before, leading up to his return fight, will be put into practise as KSI offers fans two fights for the price of one.
And it is the first step in his mission to overthrow Jake Paul at the top of the YouTube boxing hierarchy.
