KSI is so heavy-handed he is knocking out legitimate competition in the gym, his trainer Alexis Demetriades said.
The YouTube star first linked up with Demetriades at the London Shootfighters gym three years ago, before making his boxing return.
The pair now enter their toughest test together, against millionaire nightclub tycoon-turned 9-0 boxer Joe Fournier on Saturday.
And KSI has been put through his paces in the gym to prepare, which he has brutally passed with flying colours.
Demetriades told SunSport: “He’s naturally an aggressive person and he’s got very heavy hands
“That’s coming from somebody who has coached at a world-class level, the kid is actually heavy-handed.
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“He’s sparring professional boxers, that are 12-0, 13-0 and he’s holding his own. He’s knocking guys out, legit boxers, who are 7-0s, 8-0s.
“And he’s doing it in 20-ounce gloves because the kid punches hard, legitimately.”
KSI – nicknamed JJ – has been building a reputation for himself behind closed doors in secret sparring sessions.
Demetriades revealed: “One hundred per cent, there’s loads of people that will tell you about JJ’s sparring.
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“Ask Idris Virgo, who is 13-0, he’ll tell you.”
KSI, 29, has boxed six times with five wins and one draw, which came to Logan Paul, 28, in 2018 but was avenged in their rematch.
The Londoner has other wins over YouTubers, Joe Weller and Faze Temperr as well as boxer Luis Pineda and rapper Swarmz.
But Fournier, 40, will be his first opponent with professional boxing experience and as a result may allow KSI to flurish.
Demetriades said: “I think you find timing on someone who has timing. When a guy throws a straight punch, you can get timing on that.
“I think when Joe comes out and throws traditional punches, JJ will get his timing.”
KSI had hoped to finally settle his bitter score with Jake Paul, 26, in a grudge match at the end of the year.
But Paul, 26, suffered his first defeat in February, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
He’s sparring professional boxers, that are 12-0, 13-0 and he’s holding his own. He’s knocking guys out, legit boxers, who are 7-0s, 8-0s.
KSI’s coach Alexis Demetriades
The American is now set to return on August 5 in Texas against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38.
So KSI has revealed he is now setting his sights on fighting Fury and has the backing of his coach.
Demetriades said: “I think Tommy Fury is a massively interesting fight as well.
“If you put him in a fight for the British title, do you think Tommy could win the British title at that weight? No, no way.
“So he’s found the right place to be, the influencer space is right for Tommy and I think stylistically, he’s right for JJ as well.”
Fury – brother to heavyweight champion Tyson – proved a step too far for prankster-gone puncher Paul.
But Demetriades has no fear in putting KSI in there with the 9-0 former Love Islander.
He said: “You’ve got to go down the Tommy Fury route because he’s the guy that beat Jake Paul.
“And, he barely beat him, right? As in the judges gave it a split, however you might have looked at it, it was a split-decision.
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“So you’ve got to think that’s within your reach if you think you can knock out Jake Paul, from a boxing mathematics point of view.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
