Mams Taylor, President of Misfits Boxing, recently unveiled that Jake Paul declined the opportunity to fight KSI in a boxing match, even though both teams had initially agreed to the terms.
KSI, also known as Olijadi Olatunji or JJ, stands as one of the most prominent influencers in the world of boxing. The 30-year-old influencer initially gained fame as a YouTube content creator before transitioning into boxing in 2017. His boxing matches against fellow influencers have garnered substantial success and attention.
Another influencer who has made waves in the boxing world is Jake Paul, aged 26. Paul has shifted his focus to boxing and boasts a professional record of 7 wins and 1 loss, his solitary defeat against Tommy Fury.
Adding fuel to their rivalry, both KSI and Jake Paul have engaged in verbal and online spats, each asserting their superiority over the other. This ongoing feud has stoked immense anticipation among fans for a potential clash. However, as of now, an official match has not been confirmed.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding their bout, both parties have made efforts to bring it to fruition. Following Paul’s loss to Fury in February, discussions were underway, and all parties seemed to be on board with the idea.
However, a revelation from Mams Taylor, President of Misfits Boxing and KSI’s executive producer, has thrown a curveball into the mix. Taylor disclosed that Jake Paul declined the opportunity.
“They did the Tommy fight. I pushed. I said let’s do the JJ[KSI] fight next. And then Nakisa, in fairness, he said, ‘I like this fight. I think this is what Jake should do next. I think it’s a great money fight,'” Taylor disclosed during a conversation with True Geordie.
Taylor further explained that Paul’s rationale for turning down the KSI fight was a desire to redeem his loss by facing a more prominent opponent, leading to the Nate Diaz matchup.
“Jake said, ‘no, I don’t want to do this fight. And his excuse was, ‘I want to redeem my loss by fighting a bigger name.'”
Many fans found Paul’s excuse perplexing, as KSI has been a more prominent figure in recent times and boasts a larger draw compared to Diaz. Additionally, due to his younger age, KSI is considered by some as a more formidable boxer than Diaz.
Meanwhile, KSI’s objective remains to defeat Tommy Fury, thereby adding another layer of humiliation to Jake Paul. KSI and Fury are set to collide at the MF & DAZN: X Series – The Prime Card event on October 14, promising fireworks for fans of influencer boxing.