British YouTuber KSI has secured a knock out victory over professional boxer Joe Fournier in controversial scenes at London’s Wembley Arena on Sunday morning AEST, defending his MF cruiserweight title.
KSI, whose full name is Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, delivered a couple of brutal right hooks in the second round, with Fournier, who won nine fights during his professional career, collapsing to the canvas in a gruesome KO defeat.
However, replays showed that the decisive blow came from an illegal, albeit unintentional, elbow that was not spotted by the referee. The footage prompted calls for a rematch.
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But KSI denied there was any elbow involved when speaking after the fight.
“I hit him with a massive shot, and he was dazed,” KSI said after the fight.
“He was scrambling, trying to hold on to me for dear life. I was like, ‘brother, nah, nah, nah. It’s D-Day. Your soul is mine.’”
KSI though opened his post-fight speech by thanking his fans who had been a part of his rise.
“I want to give a big shoutout to every single one of you that came through to see me from my bedroom playing FIFA to knocking out a 9-0 pro,” KSI said.
“First round I tried to give him a fly-by and we weren’t able to get it. the timing was off and he was keeping that awkward range. I just saw it was open for the overhand. the overhand he said he wouldn’t get caught with is the same overhand that I knocked his a**e out with.”
KSI later had a heated confrontation with Tommy Fury, the brother of world champion Tyson, after the victory.
“I wanna do this, do what Jake Paul couldn’t and knock you out,” KSI said.
“I want it this year, I’m hungry. I need it, you’re getting f***ed.”
Fury was more than up for the challenge, replying: “Sign me up, easy money, you are going to sleep in four rounds. No defence, no head movement, you’re getting knocked out. You will be ticked off and Misfits is going to be over”.
The 29-year-old KSI remains unbeaten in exhibition bouts, having previously toppled Logan Paul, FaZe Temperrr, Luis Alcaraz Pineda, Swarmz and Joe Weller.
The undercard on Sunday featured Deji, KSI’s brother, and Swarmz.