Influencer boxing has become one of the strangest trends seen in combat sports. The trend has drawn lots of attention across the world, as what was once YouTube and TikTok beefs has begun attracting big sponsors, huge pay per view (PPV) numbers, and the involvement of professional boxers. Even with a plethora of boxing analysts claiming that influencer boxing is on the way out, the most recent Misfits Boxing event, a fight between youtuber KSI fight professional boxer Tommy Fury, saw over 1.2 million buys and significant media attention on the event. However, the controversial culmination of the event might have put the future of influencer boxing into question once again.
KSI, who is the CEO of Misfits Boxing, agreed to arrange a fight with Fury after the two shared a stare down following KSI’s win over boxer Joe Fournier in May. This was also fresh off of Fury’s victory over influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The co-headliner had KSI’s business partner and former rival Logan Paul scheduled to fight equally controversial MMA fighter Dillon Danis. Danis and Paul ruthlessly attacked each other on social media which culminated in a brawl on October 12th at a press conference. Fury and KSI also traded verbal jabs and a riot was almost incited by Fury’s father during an August press conference.
The first fight of the night was a tag team bout, a rarity in professional boxing between YouTubers Alex Wassabi and NichLMAO facing off against YouTuber BDave and boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda. Despite the lack of rhythm from the fighters, it was an interesting bout to watch with Nich and Wassabi getting a split decision win. Thai YouTuber My Mate Nate defeated Brazilian YouTuber Whindersson Nunes by unanimous decision with a series of impressive jabs. Boxer Anthony Taylor defeated YouTuber King Kenny by unanimous decision. A rematch between YouTuber and Misfits Lightweight Champion Deen the Great and experienced Iraqi boxer Walid Sharks was an incredible five round fight that saw Deen get his second win over Sharks and retain his belt. YouTuber Slim Albaher gained a shocking victory over British-Filipino TikToker and boxer Salt Papi by TKO in the fourth round.
Paul and Danis’s fight was just as chaotic as the build up. Paul consistently dominated Danis before Danis started to gain momentum in round four. During the final round, Danis attempted to pull down Paul by using a guillotine move which caused Danis to be disqualified. This led to security and Logan’s brother Jake coming into the ring to stop the melee. In a post fight interview, Logan called Danis a ‘“true coward” and said he was going to return to the WWE, where he is signed, and win a championship in professional wrestling.
KSI and Fury’s bout saw both men give an even fight with many disappointed over the fight’s lack of excitement. The lackluster fight ultimately ended with Fury’s win by unanimous decision. However, Fury’s win sparked an outcry. KSI and Fury argued post fight, with KSI claiming that he was robbed. He ended up kicking the titantron out of disappointment and went on a tirade against Fury. Fury called KSI a sore loser and a “bum” and agreed with some that influencer boxing is dead. In the public sphere, most are siding with KSI as they believe that Fury’s punches were not landing. As a result, they feel that his win was not as decisive as the judges scored it.
Whether influencer boxing can survive this controversy remains to be seen. Many are saying that the trend must culminate in a KSI vs Jake Paul bout so it does not die a slow death. Jake Paul called out both men post fight and expressed a desire to match up with Fury again.
