YouTube star KSI to face MMA fighter Anthony Taylor and unbeaten Slim Albaher in 2v1 boxing comeback event (2024)

YouTube star KSI will make his return to the ring this summer in a rare 2v1 boxing match featuring two big name influencer boxers.

The social media sensation was last out in October against Tommy Fury, where he was on the receiving end of one of 2023’s most controversial decisions as he lost for the first time. He has since taken time to focus on his businesses outside of the ring, but is coming back for an interesting gimmick fight.

KSI will take on a tag team of Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a massive headliner in Dublin on August 31. Taylor is a former Bellator star and the current Misfits Boxing light-heavyweight champion, while Albaher is the Misfits middleweight champion and a YouTuber who is unbeaten in the ring.

• Who is Jake Paul? Get to know the YouTuber-turned-boxing sensation as he prepares to fight Mike Tyson

KSI confirms boxing comeback fight against former Bellator star and unbeaten YouTube boxer

Early this morning, KSI’s editor Mo Syed teased that he would be making a boxing announcement at 5pm UK time today. And he didn’t disappoint as the YouTube boxer released a video entitled “I’m fighting again”, in which he laid out his plans for his comeback.

The Brit will travel to Dublin on August 31, and after relentless callouts from both Taylor and Albaher has offered the chance for both men to fight him at once. However, it won’t be like last night’s comical Eddie Hall 2v1 ‘Freak Fight’, with the two challengers instead tagging each other in and out.

KSI challenged the pair, offering them 24 hours to accept his terms. And within minutes they had both shared messages confirming their interest in the bout, despite preferring to get a one-on-one opportunity.

“2v1 lmao,” Albaher wrote on Twitter after watching the video. “I’d knock his lights out by myself. If this is my only chance after chasing KSI for years then I’m sorry AT you ain’t getting Tagged. Let’s make it happen.”

Taylor made a video expressing his opinion, telling the YouTube boxer: “You can’t spell GOAT without ‘AT’. KSI I’m going to whoop your a**, ain’t nothing you can do. I already beat Salt Papi, I already beat King Kenny, I’m the f***ing conqueror.”

Albaher and Taylor both boast wins over popular Tik Tok star and renowned influencer boxer Salt Papi. The MMA star did it first by decision in May of last year, but he as bettered a few months later as the YouTuber knocked him out on the famed Prime Card.

KSI sends final demands to Jake Paul for grudge fight as he confirms next bout

A key part of KSI’s announcement video was his callout of Jake Paul for what he says is the final time. The pair have had a feud going on for the better part of a decade since the Brit’s debut at the start of 2018.

When KSI faced Logan Paul in 2018, Jake made it a double headliner as he faced the YouTuber’s younger brother Deji. And after the first fight between the older siblings ended in a draw, they rematched with KSI winning a razor-tight split decision.

Since then, Jake has completely taken up boxing and become a respectable professional with a 9-1 record. Meanwhile, KSI has had a number of spells in the ring between chart-topping albums and concert tours.

However, they have never been able to come to terms on a deal given their size difference and debates over who would be the A-Side for the bout. But now, KSI is offering to go to America in May of next year, allowing his rival to fight Mike Tyson in November and lose weight in order to get down to 185lb.

“Final offer: May 2025,” he told Paul in his announcement video. “Just so you have all the time in the world to be ready. We can even do it in America just to make you that bit more happy. But that is it when it comes to giving you advantages.

“I mean, first of all we agreed to fight at 180lb and then you decided to run away and fight Nate Diaz instead. Then you came back wanting to fight at 185lb and then you decided, ‘you know what, scratch that, let’s fight at 200lb’.

“You know what Jake? I’m tired of this bulls***… Let’s make this work. We both have weight to lose and we both have plenty of time to do it. 185lb in my final offer, take it or leave it. If you come back with some bulls*** on social media I will sleep good.

“I’ll know that Jake Paul never really had the balls to fight me in a fair fight, you were never actually about it, you were just trying to save face online.”

• NO COMMENT: Dana White speaks out on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson postponement after medical emergency

Related Topics