More stories

  • in

    Floyd Mayweather among SIX names in line to fight KSI on boxing return… with YouTuber out to ‘overcome the odds’

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER is on a six-man list of names in line to fight KSI. YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI was forced to pull out of his August 31 return after suffering a hand injury. Floyd Mayweather is in the frame to fight KSICredit: GettyKSI is hoping to make a boxing return in 2025Credit: GettyAnd he is hoping to be back by next year with talks already underway for who will be his opponent.His manager Mams Taylor – who co-founded Misfits Boxing with KSI – teased it will be a superstar name with a fierce reputation. Taylor told SunSport: “It’s gonna be someone big, someone who’s a challenge, someone who people will think is the impossible for a YouTuber to beat.”And I think that’s what KSI loves. He loves overcoming the odds, he loves the challenge. He loves proving people wrong.READ MORE IN BOXING”And I think – despite the actual result of the night – most people thought he won that fight in his last fight and he was a heavy underdog in that one so you know more of that to come.” KSI, 31, is yet to return since suffering defeat for the first time, losing a controversial decision to Tommy Fury, 25, in October. He was due to face TikToker Slim Albaher and ex-MMA fighter Anthony Taylor in a wild two-on-one bout before injury. That was after talks to fight retired British former world champion Amir Khan collapsed. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut Khan, 37, and Mayweather, 47, remain in the frame for KSI. Taylor revealed: “Amir is on the hit-list, Floyd is on the hit list for KSI. These are two out of 5/6 guys that we’re all looking at very closely.”Mayweather officially retired in 2017 after beating UFC legend Conor McGregor, 36, but he has continued to box in exhibitions since. They have come against opponents from the social media, MMA and boxing world – including KSI’s brother Deji. But KSI fumed at the way Mayweather refused to take it easy on his inexperienced brother – and is out for redemption in the ring. Taylor said: “I mean, he was technically the best defensive boxer in history and arguably ever all around. “And it’d be an honour to work with him in that capacity with JJ and him if that ever happens.”And to be honest with you, that was how Deji was thinking, I’m a promoter. I can say that. “Deji was in awe of Floyd, KSI wouldn’t be in awe of Floyd. KSI wants his revenge for the way he treated his brother.” Floyd Mayweather beat YouTuber Deji in DubaiCredit: Lee Hamilton-Cooper More

  • in

    Danny Simpson reveals football rival DM’d him to set up fight… and backs ex-Man Utd team-mate to make boxing switch

    DANNY SIMPSON is already being called out to an all-footie fight ahead of his boxing debut. The 2016 Premier League winner with Leicester faces YouTuber Danny Aarons on Saturday night in Dublin.Danny Simpson is already being called out to an all-footie fight ahead of his boxing debutCredit: Getty – ContributorMisfits Boxing – headed up by YouTuber KSI and his manager Mams Taylor – welcome stars from the social media, celebrity and sports world to fight in crossover-style bouts. But Simpson – a former team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo’s at Manchester United – becomes the first footballer to cross over. And he expects several others to follow his lead having already been challenged behind-the-scenes by Prem rival James McLean. Simpson told SunSport: “I think if anything you’ve got to be quite brave in in general. But to be the first…READ MORE IN boxing “I hope so, because I said a lot of lads watch love boxing.They go, you always see the footballers at the boxing events ringside and stuff.”So yeah, I think they’re probably waiting to see what happens first! “I’ve had James McLean, I mentioned him in an interview and he DM’d me saying when he finishes, he’ll come down, spar and get in the ring.”So I think a few lads will probably get into it.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSimpson – during his time with Newcastle – infamously clashed with then-Sunderland forward McLean. And he has had his fair share of online feuds too, including one he recently put to bed with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher. Simpson said: “Me and James McLean had some beef when we played and he’s DM’d me. “I think I had beef with Carra in the past but that we sorted that out. Obviously, everyone knows Wazza is a good boxer. “So, yeah there’s names that are popping up so we’ll we’ll see if you know any of them in the future fancy it.”Wayne Rooney – nicknamed Wazza – was once knocked out in a drunken kitchen spar by Phil Bardsley. And Simpson – who came up the United ranks with Bardsley – backed the hardman full-back to have the makings of a boxer. He said: “I think my mate Phil Bardsley. I was with him last week and he’s grew up boxing and around boxing.”I’d back him to beat anyone I think on on on these cards. So I’d throw him in the mix and and put pressure on him.”James McLean clashing with Simpson in a 2012 matchCredit: Getty Images – GettyPhil Bardsley had a hardman reputationCredit: Visionhaus More

  • in

    Inside YouTuber Danny Aarons’ stunning SIX STONE weight loss after ditching junk food to become ‘the next KSI’ of boxing

    DANNY AARONS has gone from overweight gamer to the next KSI of Misfits Boxing with a sensational life turnaround. Aarons was over 17 STONE while rising to fame on YouTube playing FIFA video games. Danny Aarons has gone through a huge body transformationAarons makes his debut against former footballer Danny SimpsonBut amid the rise of celebrity-style crossover bout with Misfits Boxing, the 22-year-old fancied getting in on the action. He now makes his debut on Saturday night in a headline fight against Premier League winner Danny Simpson in Dublin. It marks a stunning contrast as Aarons told SunSport: “Obviously there’s physical changes yes but you don’t realise how much of it is mental.”I was waking up at stupid o’clock doing nothing with my life being so unproductive, eating a bunch of junk food, and it was just not not healthy and not a sustainable way to live.READ MORE IN BOXING”So you had to make good change. It’s a mental change, but I’m not a doctor or anything but honestly, just get out, get outside, do some walks, eat clean.”Aarons is now down to 11st 7lb having put in hours of training under the guidance of coach Huzaifah Iqbal in Surrey. He said: “It’s easy to to get in there one day and do it cos it’s fun, you know, it’s new. “But when you have to wake up again, do it the next day and then the next day and the next day it’s just being consistent with it is the is the tough bit.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”The easiest part, I think just my coaches and that they just feel like family, like it’s not like I have to go to training.”It’s like I’m just hanging out with the boys, man, it feels good.”Aarons has welcomed being compared to KSI – having gone from content creator to boxer. He said: “I love pressure. I love pressure. To be compared to KSI, can’t be a bad thing. So I’ll take it.”Danny Simpson agrees to put Premier League winner’s medal on the line in boxing fight against YouTuber Danny Aarons More

  • in

    Danny Simpson agrees to put Premier League winner’s medal on the line in boxing fight against YouTuber Danny Aarons

    DANNY SIMPSON has agreed to put his Premier League winner’s medal on the line in his first ever boxing fight.The former defender – who was part of the Leicester team that overcame odds of 5000-1 to win the title – faces YouTuber Danny Aarons.Danny Aarons has a bet with Danny Simpson in their fightSimpson risks losing his Prem winners medalIt marks the first time Simpson or any football star has stepped foot in the Misfits Boxing ring.And the stakes have been raised after Tottenham fan Aarons put up a wager ahead of Saturday’s bout.The gamer agreed to put up the gold plague he received after earning 1million subscribers on YouTube.In return he would win the gold medal Simpson famously earned in 2016.READ MORE IN boxingAarons said: “It would mean everything to me. It means even more now I get his Premier League medal.”I can’t believe he said yes to that. You can’t go back on that, handshakes are on camera. “So if I didn’t want to win already, I know want to win now.” Simpson, whose Foxes side pipped Spurs to the title, fired back: “I don’t mind shaking hands because that’s not gonna happen. Most read in Boxing”You’re only saying that because it’s the closest time Spurs will ever get to a medal.” Aarons replied: “One hundred per cent, one million per cent. I’ll have a Premier League medal before my own club, I have to have it. I’ll take it.” Simpsons joked: “You caught me off guard with that, but that’s not going to happen.” Danny Simpson reveals football rival DM’d him to set up fight… and backs ex-Man Utd team-mate to make boxing switch More

  • in

    I was on Riyad Mahrez’s stag when I got boxing fight offer… I don’t want my daughters to watch, says Danny Simpson

    DANNY SIMPSON was on Riyad Mahrez’s stag do when he got the offer to box – and does not want his daughters to watch. The 2016 Premier League winner with Leicester faces YouTuber Danny Aarons on Saturday night in Dublin. Riyad Mahrez and Danny Simpson won the Premier League together at LeicesterCredit: PA:Press AssociationDanny Simpson with his eldest daughter SkyeCredit: InstagramHe took the fight on just over a month’s notice when KSI was forced to pull out of his main event after suffering a hand injury. And Simpson was on a series of boozy holidays culminating in Mahrez’s stag when he got the call from Misfits Boxing chief Mams Taylor. He told SunSport: “I had my friends stag do. “So I was in Marbella and then Ibiza and then from Ibiza, I went to Riyad Mahrez’s stag do in Lake Como. READ MORE IN BOXING”And then it was pretty much after that I got a call. It was probably the right time after that holiday.”Simpson had just left ex-Foxes team-mate Mahrez when he accepted the boxing offer – but has been wished well by the likes of Jamie Vardy. He revealed: “I’m in the WhatsApp group, still with all the Leicester boys, called reunion, because it’s nearly ten years since we won the league.”Everyone’s just been saying good luck like Vards, Andy King – Wes Morgan was gonna try and come but he can’t make it. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Ben Chilwell, all the lads have got games and stuff, so they they can’t make it.”But everyone just said, listen, they said they wouldn’t do it so good luck and and enjoy it.”Simpson has two daughters, Skye, 13, and Vienna, four. His eldest Skye knows full well who his social media sensation opponent Aarons is – but he does not want either watching the fight. Simpson said: “I don’t want them to watch. “Watching your dad have a a fight, you know it’s not ideal when they’re used to watching me playing football forever.Danny Simpson in training for his boxing fightCredit: @dannysimpsonSimpson won the Prem title in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty”Especially Skye knows Danny Aarons and the world. But they’re supportive and just told me to do my best.”Simpson has been training under veteran coach Pat Barrett – an ex-British champ – for the last four weeks. And after being forced to cut out the booze and unhealthy food, the former footballer is out for more fights in the future. Simpson said: “I’ve loved it. It’s been tough. “The dieting, trying to lose the best part of 8/9 kilogrammes in that time has been difficult but I’ve had the right people around me.”So I keep thinking, imagine having a 12 week camp, not already overweight, already at a decent walking around weight. I’d feel even better.”So I’m looking forward to having a full camp in the future and and keeping fit actually while I’m not preparing for a fight. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Because I think that’s one thing that’s given me this is, it’s put me back on the right path in terms of my diet and my food and not drinking and and eating clean.” More

  • in

    KSI reveals why he would be ’10x better’ in a rematch with Tommy Fury and admits ‘mistake’ he made in first fight

    KSI insisted he will be ten times more prepared in a rematch against Tommy Fury – having learned from his biggest mistake. The boxing, music and YouTube superstar suffered defeat in the ring for the first time last October in a controversial decision to Fury. Tommy Fury controversially beat KSI on pointsCredit: PAKSI was due to return this Saturday against BOTH social media star Slim Albaher and ex-MMA fighter Anthony Taylor in a two-on-one bout. That was until he was forced to pull out after suffering a hand injury which also caused his problems in the build up to facing 25-year-old Fury. But KSI admitted coming in undersized for his 183lb catchweight clash last year was actually his biggest error of all. He told SunSport: “I wouldn’t want to make any excuses against me and Tommy.READ MORE IN BOXING“I think – but this is again my fault – it was the weight. I should have fought him at a weight that I was really comfortable in.“We put up 186 or 185 but I was struggling to even make that weight. “Whereas now I’m in a position where I’m happy to be at 185 and I’m not gonna struggle to try and get to it.“I remember when I had to weigh in, I had to drink a load of water just to try and make the weight just to try and get onto the scale and hit 185.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“I was very light when I was fighting Tommy. Whereas now you know, I’ve decided to put on a lot more muscle, get a bit bigger, stronger.“And I feel like if we were to have a rematch, I’d just do 10 times better.”Jake Paul reveals ‘take it-or-leave it’ offer to fight KSIKSI, 31, has ruled out a boxing return until 2025 as he looks to recover from his agonising hand injury. He said: “I’m thinking hopefully Q1 of next year. “I think that’s what we’re looking to aim at. I think any time this year it probably just doesn’t make sense.“And it’s one of those things where the longer I let it heal, the better for the future rather than me trying to rush back into fighting again and then just get injured again.”KSI will still perform to his beloved fans in what is a sellout at the 3Arena in Dublin – but on the microphone not in the ring. She said: “I always like finding the silver lining of things. So after I got injured, I was just like, how can I still be a part of this next Misfits?“So I thought you know what, why not just perform. So I feel like my audience still get to see me somewhat perform obviously not boxing, but doing music.“And also just get to see me in general. I’m still gonna be also commentating during the event as well as well as performing, some new songs, some old songs.READ MORE SUN STORIES“So overall, just gonna be a good event. And that was what I wanted to make sure would happen.”KSI will perform music at the 3Arena after pulling out of his fightCredit: Rex More

  • in

    Jake Paul reveals ‘last thing in the way’ of huge £100m KSI fight and issues ‘take-it-or-leave it’ offer to rival

    JAKE PAUL insisted there is just one final obstacle standing in the way of a huge KSI fight – but warned he is on his last “take-it-or-leave it” offer. The pair of YouTubers-turned-boxers have spent years feuding which has fuelled demand for a blockbuster bout believed to be worth £100million,Jake Paul insisted there is just one final obstacle standing in the way of a huge KSI fightKSI vs Jake Paul could be worth £100mCredit: GettyBut talks have dragged on with the latest hurdle being the weight disparity between them.Paul’s last three fights have been at the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb while he prepares to move up to heavyweight to face Mike Tyson.KSI, meanwhile, suffered his first defeat in his last fight when he lost via a controversial decision to Tommy Fury at a 183lb catchweight.Paul is adamant that for the fight to happen it can only take place between the cruiserweight range of 176lb-200lb.READ MORE IN BOXINGHe said at a Professional Fighters League event: “I think it’s just down to weight now. “Because I’m so much heavier and KSI also says he’s walking around at 205 – and that’s what his coach said on an interview – so you know that’s the truth.”I’m walking around at like 215. So I think it’s just a weight thing. I think it’s like 195-200lbs. And that’s really the last thing in the way.”Well, that’s what we said to him. We said this is a cruiserweight fight unless we go down to 175.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“But I can’t get down there by any means. So we just said cruiserweight, professional cruiserweight fight, take it or leave it.”KSI, 31, has not returned since suffering defeat to Fury, 25, in October. Jake Paul rubs salt into ‘dumbass’ Tommy Fury’s wounds as he offers Molly-Mae a JOB after boxing rival’s shock break-upHe was due to on August 31 in Dublin against Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a wild two-on-one bout.But KSI was agonisingly forced to pull out of the event with an excruciating hand injury.Meanwhile Paul, 27, takes on Tyson, 58, in Texas on November 15 in a controversial clash scrutinised for the three-decade age gap.But KSI is not so convinced the fight for the ages will go ahead after Iron Mike pulled out of the original July 20 date amid a health scare.He told us: “Jake’s just getting heavier and heavier and heavier, obviously, because he’s just looking at the Mike Tyson fight – which I still don’t think is gonna happen.“I think they’re gonna try and make an ordeal, and then eventually Mike will realise he actually can’t fight, and then I don’t know what they’re gonna do then.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But for me, the Jake fight, I’m just gonna wait. I don’t really need to chase him, eventually he’s gonna have no other options, but to have to come to me.“He’s just not trying to get involved. He’s in a bit of an awkward situation, so I think for him it’s probably easier if he just leaves it.”KSI and Jake Paul clashing in the ring in 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

  • in

    KSI braces for ‘wild case’ Conor McGregor to gatecrash Misfits Dublin event after UFC star’s BARE-KNUCKLE fight callout

    KSI is braced for Conor McGregor’s wild antics in Dublin – having been called out to a BARE-KNUCKLE fight last time they met. The last time the two were in the same room – when Anthony Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in August 2023 – McGregor offered KSI a scrap.KSI is braced for Conor McGregor’s wild antics in DublinCredit: RexConor McGregor called KSI out to a bare-knuckle fight in 2023Credit: PAAlmost 12 months on, they could run into each other again with McGregor’s photographer Dave Fogarty in action on KSI’s Misfits Boxing card.Snapper Fogarty faces Misfits champion Deen The Great in Dublin – with KSI preparing himself for any amount of chaos. He told SunSport: “With McGregor, you don’t really know what to expect. “He’s a bit of a wild case. I don’t think he’s in any state of mind to be fighting at all. I don’t think he’s gonna be fighting anytime soon.READ MORE IN BOXING”The UFC have tried. They failed. So yeah, even if he does try to call me out, I know it’s just a bluff.“I know he’s not actually about it. So I think once my hand actually properly heals, and I’m able to be 100 per cent again, I’ll actually look at people who are willing to fight and who want to fight.”A hand injury forced KSI out of his proposed return against Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a wild two-on-one handicap bout.Instead, Premier League winner Danny Simpson, 37, steps in as headline replacement against YouTuber Danny Aarons, 22. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFogarty makes his Misfits debut with close confidant McGregor expected to be in attendance to support. The ex-UFC champion, 36, in 2017 lost his lucrative boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, 47, and has been a target of Jake Paul’s ever since.Jake Paul reveals ‘take it-or-leave it’ offer to fight KSIBut McGregor has refused to even entertain a fight with Paul, 27, and has instead talked up facing KSI, 31, in the past instead. And KSI added: “Conor is more interested in me because I sell pay-per-views. “I don’t know if you know much about Jake Paul’s last pay-per-view, but he’s sold less than 50,000 buys.“He had less than 50,000 buys. That’s terrible. For someone like him, he likes to claim that he’s the A-side, he’s one of the biggest in the world, less than 50,000 is terrible.“I don’t think I’ve ever done that. So for me, I know my worth. I know what I can do. And I know what makes sense.With McGregor, you don’t really know what to expect. He’s a bit of a wild case.KSI on Conor McGregor “I’m just gonna keep my cards close to my chest. And if the Conor McGregor fight makes sense, then we’ll do it.“But again, I just don’t see him being in that right state of mind to be fighting. I think he’s too busy enjoying himself and that’s perfectly fine.”McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July 2021 and has been out since after suffering a brutal leg break in his last bout. He was due to return in June against Michael Chandler, 38, but a toe injury KOd the clash with it yet to be rescheduled. KSI is nursing a hand injury that has taken him off fighting in his event – so he will instead put on a music performance for the 3Arena.He said: “I’m gonna be working more on the music just to wrap that up again because I feel like I’ve kind of neglected it a little bit.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’ve got a few bangers just in the locker that I’d eventually like to release.“And then in terms of fighting once I’m back to punching, it’d be good to maybe do one or two fights next year and then see how I feel from there. Still do YouTube etc. Just keep it moving.” More