IDRIS VIRGO turned down a return to Love Island to focus on Misfits Boxing and continue training with KSI.
Virgo entered the ITV villa in 2018 as an undefeated boxer and now has a professional record of 12 wins with one draw.
But more recently, he has focused on the celebrity-style crossover bouts with Misfits Boxing – headed up by YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI.
Virgo’s next fight is against Ty Mitchell – Tyson Fury’s former sparring partner – on April 12 in Leeds.
And he had to reject a return to Love Island on this year’s All Stars show to commit himself to the bout.
Virgo, 31, told SunSport: “I could have taken the chance to risk going on the show and come out for this fight.
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“But it’s too much, so I thought I’d kick it to the can. Oh, it is 100 per cent a tough decision because Love Island’s my root, that’s the reason why I’m standing here today.
“I got what I have because of Love Island, so it would have been good to go back on there, build my career, X, Y, Z, but sometimes you gotta take sacrifices and that’s one of my sacrifices.
“I had to kick the can and train hard ready for this fight.”
Virgo has relocated from Birmingham to the capital to train at London Shootfighters alongside KSI.
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The two are regular training partners and Virgo said: “KSI is really good. People don’t understand how good he is.
“I believe KSI is on, say British come European kind of level if you wanna talk about pro ranks.
“Some people are thinking, well, this guy’s chatting rubbish, but he’s really good, honestly.
“He’s got power in his right hand, got good movement, good cardio, now he’s picking up boxing IQ, the guy’s got everything.”
KSI, 31, has not returned since defeat to Tommy Fury, 25, in October 2023 which was his first loss in the ring.
Virgo was KSI’s main sparring partner for the camp and was left with a sore head after their final session.
He revealed: “The guy hit so hard when he was training for the Tommy Fury fight, I was his last spar.
“I got into that ring, sparred him, he hit me so hard I went home and I put a bet on for a knockout.
“That’s how hard he hits. He hits like a truck. Leaves me headaches 100 per cent.”
“He’s got power in his right hand, got good movement, good cardio, now he’s picking up boxing IQ, the guy’s got everything.
Idris Virgo on KSI
KSI faces 2-0 MMA star Dillon Danis, 29, in his comeback bout on March 29 in Manchester.
And Virgo predicted: “He’s gonna show people his boxing IQ in this fight.
“I do believe he’ll probably knock Dillon Danis out in either the third or fourth round.
“It’s just gonna show people what he’s learnt from Shootfighters.”
KSI was recently pictured with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh – and Virgo believes he is the man to finally make the Jake Paul grudge match.
He said: “JJ wants that fight, it’s Jake Paul being a coward, being a duck who’s ducking.
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“If they can have the fight in the car park, they have the fight in the car park, you know what I mean?
“Hopefully Turki can make it happen, you never know.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
