KSI has introduced his retirement from boxing.
KSI has introduced his retirement from boxing
The 32-year-old YouTuber-turned-fighter has not boxed since dropping an in depth resolution to Tommy Fury, 26, in October 2023 and has now admitted his coronary heart is now not within the sport, regardless of remaining a central determine in influencer boxing by Misfits Boxing.
Talking on The Ranveer Present, KSI stated: “I believe everybody has a foul aspect, however it’s whether or not you need to faucet into that, and for me, I don’t need to do this. I felt like I needed to once I was boxing.
“I felt like I needed to be the nightmare, and with that, to promote a combat it’s important to do stuff to get individuals to need to watch. I did some horrible issues once I was doing the entire boxing factor. That’s the combat sport, and I didn’t take pleasure in it.”
The Nightmare revealed that even a profitable supply to lastly face Jake Paul, 28, was not sufficient to maintain him concerned.
He stated: “I’ve been provided $30 million to combat Jake Paul. These guys can’t give me any sum of money to combat this man. In terms of boxing, I’m completed. I attempted.”
KSI added that his long-stated ambition had been to combat The Drawback Youngster whereas serving to construct Misfits Boxing, however repeated breakdowns in negotiations left him disillusioned.
He defined: “I used to be there able to combat Jake Paul. As a substitute, he fought Nate Diaz.
“Then it was excuses after excuses, weight adjustments, shifting the goalposts. It obtained to the purpose the place I used to be like, ‘What am I doing?’ I’m completed.”
KSI – whose actual title is Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji – turned a pivotal determine within the influencer boxing increase after beating fellow YouTuber Joe Weller in 2018, earlier than drawing after which defeating Logan Paul throughout two vastly profitable bouts.
These occasions helped reshape crossover boxing and paved the way in which for Misfits, which KSI co-founded to showcase influencer-led playing cards.
Reflecting on his last bout, he stated the loss to Fury marked a turning level.
He stated: “After I misplaced that combat, I used to be fairly misplaced. I attempted to get again into boxing, however my coronary heart wasn’t actually in it. My physique was damaged. My hand was tousled. I simply thought, ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’”
KSI additionally described the bodily and psychological toll of coaching camps.
He stated: “Of all the pieces I’ve completed in my life, boxing is the toughest factor. By week seven or eight, you’re waking up asking why you’re doing this. Bodily, you’re completed. Mentally, you’re cooked.”
Whereas his days within the ring are over, KSI harassed he’ll stay concerned behind the scenes.
He stated: “I nonetheless need to develop Misfits. Simply don’t count on me to step again into the ring once more.”
