The prelude to the Saturday's fight card, featuring KSI vs. Tommy Fury and Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis, has been far from uneventful. Verbal jabs have been traded, cake has been hurled, and a lawsuit has even been filed.
The initial match will feature two aspiring boxers competing against each other in their quest to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Meanwhile, the second match marks the climax of an intense rivalry.
This highly anticipated double-header has generated immense online excitement, with a staggering combined following of over 17 million on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
Misfits Boxing, the promotors of the event, told CNN that general sale of the tickets sold out within an hour, with the whole night being sold out in a week.
Paul brings a cake mimicking Danis, his opponent on October 14, onto stage during a press conference.
Jonathan Brady/AP
How to watch
The quartet will take to the ring on Saturday, October 14, at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.
The event is set to begin at 7 p.m. local time (2 p.m ET), followed by the main event approximately five hours later.
Dubbed The Prime Card, the evening will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN worldwide through its pay-per-view service.
Big names
The realm of boxing has witnessed significant progress with the rise of unconventional pugilists as a captivating source of entertainment. 2018 marked a pivotal moment in this evolution when KSI emerged victorious over Joe Weller in the inaugural official bout between two prominent figures from the world of YouTube.
The fights have become professional, attracting global broadcasters and drawing in an array of international celebrities like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Anderson Silva. In essence, it has evolved from a singular attempt at brand promotion and physical exertion into a feasible choice for a career.
The story begins with Olajide "KSI" Olatunji, a 30-year-old British individual known for his involvement in gaming, vlogging, and rapping. Initially gaining recognition on YouTube, KSI has since shifted his focus towards a successful boxing career. In 2019, he entered the professional boxing realm, although he does not possess a professional license in the UK.
With an impeccable record of five victories, KSI has not only established himself as a formidable boxer but also played a pivotal role in the creation of Misfits Boxing. This prominent boxing promoter specializes in organizing events featuring YouTubers and fighters with substantial online followings.
KSI will step into the ring to face Fury, known for his familial ties to boxing as the half-brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. However, Fury rose to prominence following his participation on the popular British reality dating show "Love Island."
KSI (left) and Paul face off during their second press conference.
Michael Tran/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
KSI and Logan Paul demonstrate strategic boxing in their efforts to validate YouTubers. The highly successful Fury, who remains undefeated, triumphed over Jake Paul, Logan's sibling, in their much-anticipated showdown in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Logan Paul is set to make his boxing comeback in the second of a double-header, following his exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. two years ago. Despite initially gaining fame through his internet presence like KSI, Paul has now emerged as a prominent figure in the world of WWE wrestling entertainment.
Meanwhile, Danis, renowned for his association with Conor McGregor and the brawl that ensued with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, resulting in Nurmagomedov's suspension from the octagon for nine months and a hefty fine of $500,000 for his assault on Danis.
Years in the making
The anticipation for the Paul-Danis fight has been building up for years and has had moments of potentially getting out of control.
Previously, there were talks of a fight between Danis and Jake Paul, the younger brother. However, it is now the older brother Logan who will be the one stepping into the ring against the 30-year-old.
Adding more confusion to the situation, Danis announced on social media Friday that the fight would not be taking place due to Paul allegedly missing weight. Despite this, both Paul and DAZN continued to promote the fight as if it were still happening. In response to Danis' statement, Paul replied on X, saying, "You wish. See you tomorrow."
The lead up to the fight has been overshadowed by a lawsuit filed by Paul's fiancée, Nina Agdal, against Danis. The lawsuit is based on a series of images that Danis posted on social media, some of which seem to have been digitally altered. These altered images were often used to criticize Agdal's past relationships.
In September, Agdal filed a lawsuit against Danis for "revenge porn," saying that his posts have caused her to "suffer humiliation, emotional distress, and reputational harm."
Logan Paul attends the fight between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center on August 5, 2023.
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Both Paul and Danis are relatively new to the world of boxing, but they have prior experience in other forms of physical combat. During his high school years, Paul excelled as a skilled wrestler. Although Danis remains undefeated in his two professional MMA fights, his absence from the ring since 2019 can be attributed to injuries and personal matters he had to confront.
Danis during a pre-fight press conference.
Jonathan Brady/AP
At the final press conference ahead of the fight, the occasion perhaps unsurprisingly boiled over as it ended with heavy trash talk and chaos.
Boxing for legitimacy
While Danis and Paul dont have a long history of boxing matches, the same cannot be said about Fury and KSI.
Boxing runs through Fury's veins, whereas KSI has undergone a remarkable transformation from a YouTuber and musician to a dedicated professional boxer.
Fury recently achieved a significant milestone in his career by defeating Jake Paul earlier this year. In contrast, KSI has participated in five fights, emerging victorious in four of them. Unfortunately, in his most recent bout, the match ended in a no contest due to an unintentional elbow strike.
This six-round cruiserweight bout signifies Fury's continued effort to establish himself as a credible boxer and break free from the overshadowing influence of his older half-brother.
Fury celebrates after defeating Jake Paul in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
AP
KSI has wholeheartedly embraced his transition from being one of the most popular YouTube stars in the UK to becoming a boxer. With a fellow boxing enthusiast in the opposite corner, he now has the chance to gain even more praise.
KSI looks on against Joe Fournier during their cruiserweight bout at Wembley Arena on May 13, 2023.
"I returned to the boxing arena with the intention of displaying the world the exceptional skills I possess. By decisively defeating all my previous opponents, I have unequivocally established myself as the supreme force dominating this field," proclaimed KSI prior to the upcoming fight.
Having knocked out opponents one after another, I find myself facing the most challenging fight in the influencer boxing world. I am going up against Tommy Fury, the fighter who defeated the previously undefeated Jake Paul. I am eagerly looking forward to proving all the skeptics wrong and showing them that I do have a real chance. Once this fight is over, you will realize that I am truly the one everyone talks about.