YouTube sensations KSI and Logan Paul are set for a rematch on November 9 in order settle the score on their previous draw. This time around, the headgear is off, and the fight is going pro, with that in mind, both men have said they’re interested in pursuing a future in fighting. Just how serious are the two in ditching the vlogs for violence?
KSI vs. Logan Paul 2 is fast approaching, after more than a year of waiting, this time taking place in LA’s Staples Center, the event is promised to be a lot more violent than the previous bout. Both YouTubers have gone on record as saying they’ll try to kill one another, or at the very least knock each other “the f**k out”.
The event itself has all of hallmarks of a professional event, it’s being promoted by Matchroom Boxing USA’s Eddie Hearn, one of the industry’s biggest promoters. As well as being streamed on DAZN, a dedicated sports steaming service, there’s also press conferences between the two fighters, weigh-ins, and the removal of safety gear which was used in the first fight. On paper, the event is serious, in fact already 7,000 tickets of the 20,000 have been sold for the Staples Center seats.
Read about whether KSI and Logan Paul will meet in Dubai here!
The magnitude of the event however is getting to the heads of the participants, as both KSI and Logan Paul are making suggestions that they will both peruse some kind of involvement in professional fighting after their rematch. The current highest fighting achievement of KSI’s is his ‘YouTube Boxing Title he earned for beating Joe Weller. Paul only has the recognition of ‘State Wrestler’.
KSI’s portfolio may only consist of one win and one draw against some YouTubers, but he’s now confident there’s more in him than just one rematch. At a recent press conference the FIFA-player stated:
“I definitely could fight a few other pro boxers,” he said.
“Not at a super-high level, but at a level where I feel comfortable and happy to fight at.”
“I would [also] try WWE. I wouldn’t mind WWE, I’ve done a bit of wrestling, so you never know.”
If KSI was to pursue WWE, his weigh-in weight of the first fight, which was 84.9kg, would make him one of the lightest fighters in WWE history.
At that same conference, vlogger Paul said:
“I will have progressed too much to ever fight another celebrity or YouTuber after this,” he said.
“I am sparring professional fighters and I am beating them badly, that does so much for my confidence.
“I relied on my athleticism to carry me through the first fight and it almost worked; but now I am a boxer, I am literally a professional fighter and I feel like it.”
Paul particularly has ambitious goals, previously calling out Conor McGregor for a fight. Paul explained that:
“Yeah, I’ll fight Conor. He’s f***ing punching old men in the face.”
“I want to do MMA after this. I wrestled in high school”.
It’s not certain at this time whether Paul’s experience in high school can compete with McGregor’s experience as UFC champion with a near flawless record. At the time of the first fight, Paul weighed in at 86kg, putting him the weight threshold for the super middleweight division. McGregor on the other hand weighs in at around 70kg, putting him in the lightweight division. As it stands, McGregor has a 21-4 record in MMA and has been UFC champion on numerous occasions in numerous weight classes.
Paul has gone on to explain that:
“I would honestly love to fight in the UFC; I want [president] Dana White to put me in the Octagon.”
In a weight closer to his own, Paul could try his luck against Robert Whittaker, the current middleweight champion at 84kg. Whittaker has a record of 21 wins, four loses and zero draws. Paul in comparison has a record of one draw.
KSI is certainly more modest than Paul on his ability to enter the professional world of fighting, though both men are showing interest in joining some kind of fighting style after this rematch.
