Misfits Boxing

TWO of Misfits Boxing’s head honchos first met in a fight on the streets of London – now they run a promotion worth over £100million.The company was launched in 2022 to give a home to crossover bouts between celebrity and sporting stars.
Promoter Kalle Sauerland with Misfits founders KSI and Mams TaylorCredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing
Mams Taylor and Kalle Sauerland went from street fighting teens to business partnersCredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing
It was founded British YouTube sensation KSI and his music mogul manager Mams Taylor.
But they also teamed up with boxing promoter Kalle Sauerland, who first met Taylor during a street fight in London.
Taylor told SunSport: “Kalle and I were in the West End having a street fight against each other’s friends.
“We were probably 13 or 14 and we’ve always had a mutual respect for each other, Nisse [Sauerland] as well. 
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“And they had a reputation as hard men and I had a reputation for the same thing, we’d always be fighting and I don’t know why, obviously it’s stupid now.
“Over the years we would see each other and there was always a mutual respect.” 
Taylor would go onto find fame in music while Sauerland became one of boxing’s most powerful figures.
And in 2019, when KSI – nicknamed JJ – beat Logan Paul in their Los Angeles rematch, the idea of a crossover boxing platform was created.
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Taylor said: “Kalle and I spoke about it and I was like, ‘Look, I really want JJ to be doing this for himself rather than making others millions. 
“I spoke to JJ about it and he loved it. He loves creating platforms that helps others and I think this really helps creators in so many ways.”
Misfits head into their eighth event this Saturday, staged in Nashville and aired on streaming service DAZN.
Taylor admits he has been inspired by the WWE’s production value but insists the mayhem of Misfits is ultimately real.
He said: “You can’t script the action. 
“It’s real boxing matches within that ring so you can’t predict the outcome and you never know what’s going to happen. 
“The fighting is real but sometimes I’ll plant a seed and just leave it and I know that it’s going to create a feud between a couple of them. 
“Some professional s***stirring has to gone on once in a while. But a lot of the time it’s cool because it just happens organically.”
YouTubers Wings of Redemption and Boogie 2988 weighed almost 60st collectivelyCredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing
Misfits have introduced tag-team boxingCredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing
It took inspiration from the WWECredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing
The new wave of social media influencers boxing has changed the lives of many, including KSI and Jake Paul, who train full time.
But Misfits have also faced criticism for their matchmaking in the past, including a super-heavyweight bout of almost 60 STONE and tag-team matches.
Although Taylor admits there is a sense of responsibility to ensure every boxer on Misfits is respecting the sport.
He said: “We want them to take the training seriously, we can’t control everything that happens but what we can control we definitely make it as safe as possible. 
“We go the extra mile on the medical testing, we go the extra mile in ensuring everyone is putting the work in and taking care of their health. 
“Even for exhibition matches where we’re not obligated to do the extent of medical testing that we do, we’d rather do it and spend the extra money to protect them.”
KSI has headlined three Misfists events now on DAZN PPV and is in talks to fight Tommy Fury next.
But as CEO of the company, he has a say on everything, including matchmaking and production.
Taylor says they have turned down interest to sell Misfits after just 12 months of business and gives it an eye-watering valuation.
KSI has headlined on three DAZN PPVsCredit: Getty
KSI knocking out gamer Faze TemperrrCredit: PA
KSI in his last fight with Joe FournierCredit: Getty
He said: “It’s worth over £100million, if you look at everything, including our contracts long-term, things in the pipeline.
“Every event we’ve done has made a profit and the audience is just growing. We had an offer to have effect, over £100million.
“But we don’t want to give up control and not want an investor to come in and have a say without having the knowledge.”
Misfits are entering the first of their five years with DAZN and Taylor warns they are only just getting started.
He said: “Within that five-year period our growth is going to be exponential we’ve got amazing ideas.
“We’ve got something for everyone, we’ve got a pro division that’s launching, we’ve got some fights that are more gimmicky, tag-teams.
“Then we’ve got guys who don’t take it too seriously but they want to settle a beef which is super entertaining.
“Then you’ve got guys who live and breathe like boxers now; KSI, trains super hard, Jake Paul, we’ve seen his transformation.
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“All these guys, it’s their primary lifestyle now it’s taken over everything they’ve been doing.
“So you’ve got to give them respect, they’re putting in the hours and the work. You can hate on these guys all you want, but they’re watching.”
Tommy Fury and KSI are in talks to fight nextCredit: Getty More

HASIM RAHMAN JR had to painfully watch his Olympic dream from a prison cell – but now he is fighting to make up for lost time. The heavyweight is the son of two-time champion Rahman Sr, who famously knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001.
Hasim Rahman Jr is the son of heavyweight legend SrCredit: ANU / The Sun
The American spent three years in prison
So for Rahman, moving into the family business was a no brainer as he quit American football to pursue boxing.
And he took to it well, having almost 100 amateur bouts which set up Olympic aspirations.
But that was cut short in 2012, when Rahman was involved in a car crash which fatally killed a 43-year-old truck driver in Las Vegas.
Only 20 at the time of the incident, he was later incarnated for three years after being charged with reckless driving.
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Opening up to SunSport, Rahman said: “It just made me realise how important my family was. 
“We all help each other, it’s not just me and my career, it’s my brother and his career. It’s my mum and what she’s doing, my dad and what he’s doing. 
“It’s everyone and we come together as a family and we have one goal and that’s to keep the Rahman name on top. 
“When I was away, my family was the only way I got through it. If it wasn’t for my family, I don’t know where I would be.” 
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Hasim Rahman Sr with son Jr
Jr turned professional in 2017Credit: ANU / The Sun
Rahman watched from his cell as Team USA failed to enter a heavyweight in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
But after his release that December, he made his professional debut in 2017 and has been on a mission ever since.
Rahman, 32, said: “I always feel like I’m chasing it a little bit. When I left I was considering being a 178-pounder in the trials. 
“But I went away about six-seven months before the trials happened so I didn’t get to participate and I had to watch the Olympics through a cell. 
“And it really hurt, especially seeing people out there that I felt like I could have made a difference if I was there. 
“It was just tough to go through that experience but I came home and I’ve made the most of the opportunities that have been afforded to me. 
“But it’s crunch time now. I should be winning these fights, I should have won my last two fights so we go back, look at it, pray about it and Inshallah we come out on top July 22nd.” 
Despite having a famous fighting surname, Rahman felt as though his biggest bout was outside the ring.
Floyd Mayweather with Hasim Rahman Jr has
Because when he and younger brother Sharif were amateurs, they filed a lawsuit against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
They had been included in an episode of Showtime’s All Access, in which both of them claimed they sparred for over 30 minutes without a break.
The brothers sought damages of more than $10,000 after alleging battery, tortious assault, false imprisonment, negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention and unjust enrichment.
It was later settled out of court, but Rahman believes it left him blacklisted by the powers that be.
He said: “I’m always going to be fighting that a little bit but it’s up to me and my brothers to break that barrier. 
“But it just makes it that much more difficult when you’re fighting against people that are very, very high up in the sport.”
Rahman notched up 12 straight wins before losing in 2022 to Kenzie Morrison, 33, son of ex-champ Tommy.
But four months later he was set to replace Tommy Fury, 24, as an opponent to fight YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul, 26.
Jake Paul was set to fight Hasim Rahman Jr in 2022Credit: ANU / The Sun
The fight was cancelled due to a weight disagreementCredit: ANU / The Sun
Eventually that was also scrapped amid a weight disagreement and instead Rahman was signed by Paul’s rival KSI to Misfits Boxing.
Rahman lost his Misfits debut last November to ex-NFL and UFC star Greg Hardy, 34, who had a SEVEN STONE advantage.
Now he is back on Saturday night against bare-knuckle boxing champion and former UFC heavyweight Alan Belcher, 39.
Rahman said: “I know he’s very tough and he’s going to bring a lot of pressure and I know he’s a knockout artist. 
“He’s already said he’s coming to knock me out in the second round, so it’s going to be bombs away come July 22nd, that I can guarantee.” 
Rahman has teased a switch to MMA himself while not ruling out a return to traditional boxing – as he looks to leave an unprecedented legacy.
He said: “I want to set a mark that can’t nobody touch. I want to do something that is like, ‘Wow, he really did that.’ 
“I’ve had some really tough fights, I’m coming off two really tough fights and I have a tough fight ahead of me. So there’s one thing right there.  
“Especially in this era, people don’t take tough fights and can’t nobody say to me I’m taking easy fights. 
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“Now it’s time to come out on the winning side and take tough fights after that.
“I don’t want to be known as a fighter that took easy fights or was scared to fight anybody.” 
KSI pictured with Hasim Rahman JrCredit: Facebook More