Within the influencer boxing sphere, the 2 largest names are the YouTube personalities KSI and Jake Paul, and for months, KSI has been brazenly courting a match between the 2. Earlier this week, KSI even laid out the precise plan for his or her eventual matchup, saying he’ll knockout out Paul on the finish of 2023. Solely there’s one downside: Paul is shedding curiosity.
Forward of his combat with Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia, Paul spoke with Ariel Helwani, dismissing KSI’s current assaults.
“He’s like a aspect chick for me,” Paul stated. “I’ve a lot greater plans than him. I need to be a world champion, I’m going to turn out to be a world champion. That’s the trail that I’m on. KSI is sort of a aspect quest. In fact I’m his finish purpose. It’s simply humorous to me. And that’s what makes me the A-side, how determined he’s. He desires this so badly.
“Don’t get me unsuitable, I might like to combat him, however I’m targeted on combating actual fighters, actual champions. He’s targeted on doing WWE reveals, the entire Misfits factor, combating video players. That’s what I did 4 years in the past, three years in the past. There’s ranges to this, and till he will get in there and fights somebody like [Tyron] Woodley, which is who he ought to combat, I’m not impressed by something he’s achieved.”
Paul’s main criticism of KSI is the standard of his opposition. Whereas Paul himself has confronted backlash for primarily combating MMA fighters throughout his boxing stint, KSI has not even achieved that, as an alternative going through a litany of fellow influencers by his Misfits Boxing promotion. That is exacerbated by the truth that considered one of Paul’s earlier opponents, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, has been aggressively pursuing a combat with KSI, to no avail. In the identical interview the place KSI dragged Paul, he famous that his subsequent opponent would probably be Joe Fournier, a former WBA Worldwide light-heavyweight champion and influencer, an opponent Paul has little respect for.
“Beat Woodley, 1 million %,” Paul stated when requested which opponent can be higher for KSI. “Fournier doesn’t have an viewers. Woodley is a large title, is a large pay-per-view draw, and a far more thrilling combat. I feel KSI desires to do it as a result of Joe is technically knowledgeable boxer, however Joe’s been in there with taxi drivers and very easy fighters. Joe has a superb report, nevertheless it’s a padded report. He’s by no means fought anybody, really…
“It’s humorous, Tyron and I’ve gotten nearer over the previous couple of months. I feel Tyron knocks him out, really. And I feel that’s why he’s more than likely going to decide on Joe.”
Ought to that come to move, whereas Paul beats Tommy Fury and will get ranked by the WBC for his troubles, Paul says that might actually put a damper on a possible combat between the 2, as a result of on the level, the one factor Paul would acquire can be cash.
“I’m already shedding curiosity,” Paul stated. “He talks, he has excuses, he says one factor after which goes again on his phrase. He jogs my memory of Tommy Fury, truthfully. So I’ve already misplaced quite a lot of curiosity in it. I might primarily simply be doing it to select up a bag. Financial institution theft, I’m going to go in there, knock him out, and do a entrance flip off of his unconscious physique and take dwelling the bag. That’s what that combat’s for for me.”
Paul faces Fury on Feb. 26 on the Diriyah Area in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
