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KSI returns to the ring tonight in a bid to prove he’s the ruler in the YouTube boxing space – but the event has not been without its twists and turns. The British social media, rap and prizefighting star faces TWO opponents on the night of his comeback, this Saturday.
KSI ahead of his boxing comebackCredit: Rex
KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – last boxed in November 2019 against Logan Paul.
They had drawn in a white collar bout a year earlier and then raised eyebrows when Eddie Hearn turned them professional for their rematch.
KSI, 28, ran out a winner by scrappy split-decision after Paul, 27, hit him on the deck and got a two point dedication.
A lot has happened since then, for example KSI and Paul are now friends and even own an energy drink together called Prime.
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And KSI took a break from boxing to focus on music, releasing two albums and headlining at Wembley.
This is all while Paul’s brother Jake went 5-0 as a boxer and emerged as the most accomplished celebrity fighter.
It also provided KSI’s main motivation for returning to boxing, eyeing a grudge match with his American nemesis.
He told talkSPORT: “Jake Paul – that’s the main goal, that’s the only reason I came back.”
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KSI’s plan appears simple; return to boxing after three years out, brush off some cobwebs and return for a mega-fight with Jake.
And he was not short of rivals offering their services to welcome KSI back to the squared circle.
But, after such a long period out, and a blockbuster bout with Jake on the cards, picking his return fight was a delicate operation.
Initially, KSI was matched with Alex Wassabi, a bout which had legs and made sense.
Wassabi had beaten KSI’s brother Deji in March and he’s advised by Jake, creating a sellable narrative.
But disaster struck just weeks out from the DAZN pay-per-view as Wassabi withdrew, leaving KSI without an opponent.
What followed was an online back-and-forth between KSI and Jake, who had offered to step in on late notice.
Logan Paul was beaten by KSI in 2019Credit: Getty
Jake Paul is top of the YouTube boxing hierarchyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Several insults later and KSI appeared to snub the deal and claimed he would fight his arch rival next year at Wembley.
The Brit then announced rapper Swarmz – who in 2020 he collaborated on a song with – would be his shock replacement opponent.
That was baring in mind Swarmz – real name Brandon Scott – has never laced up a pair of gloves.
Although he did once say on Instagram: “I’m going to smoke this guy – watch, I’m a mad man.”
Despite Swarmz’s promise, the backlash from fans was so intense KSI reacted by organising another opponent to fight on the same night.
He announced Bulgarian boxer Ivan Nikolov would fight him later on after Swarmz, an unprecedented move to say the least.
But Nikolov then had to be withdrawn after it emerged he had neo-Nazi tattoos, forcing KSI to even sack his matchmaker.
Rapper Swarmz will fight KSI
Luis Alcarez Pineda will be KSI’s second opponent of the night
He said: “He’s a white supremacist Ivan isn’t my opponent anymore. He has been removed.
“The matchmaker also got fired for allowing this to happen in the first place. But yes, my new opponent is Luis Alcarez Pineda.”
So out with Nikolov and in with 2-5 Pineda, a Mexican who was in March beaten on points and made his debut at welterweight.
But Pineda will have to jump up in weight to fight KSI at 185lb, which is 10lb off the light-heavyweight limit.
KSI revealed he has spent the last three years training in secret under the guidance of the London Shootfighters team.
A glimpse at his open workout is evidence that his hand speed, punch technique and footwork has improved.
And KSI has also vowed to ditch his wild, erratic style for a more reformed and traditional form of boxing.
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So all that has come before, leading up to his return fight, will be put into practise as KSI offers fans two fights for the price of one.
And it is the first step in his mission to overthrow Jake Paul at the top of the YouTube boxing hierarchy.
KSI training for his boxing comebackCredit: Getty
The YouTube boxing star will have two fights in one nightCredit: Getty More

MEXICAN Luis Alcaraz Pineda is set to be the second of KSI’s two boxing opponents on Saturday night. YouTube star KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – returns to the ring after three years out.
Luis Alcaraz Pineda is the Mexican boxer fighting KSICredit: Misfits Boxing
Luis Alcaraz Pineda training for the fightCredit: Misfits Boxing
Luis Alcaraz Pineda will be KSI’s second opponent of the nightCredit: Misfits Boxing
And he plans to make up for lost time by extraordinarily fighting TWICE in one night.
He is set to open the DAZN pay-per-view event at the O2 against rapper Swarmz, real name Brandon Scott, 25.
And then he will close the card against little-known Pineda, 23, who was only drafted in on late notice.
Pineda is 2-5 and made his professional debut in 2017, losing but then winning twice after.
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Although his form of late has been poor, losing his last four with three coming by knockout.
KSI was initially due to fight Alex Wassabi, 32, the American who beat his brother Deji in March.

But Wassabi was withdrawn amid a concussion scare and later controversially replaced by musician Swarmz.
The backlash was so fierce, due to Swarmz’s inexperience, that KSI made the bold decision to recruit a second opponent.
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That was meant to be Ivan Nikolov – although the Bulgarian was seen to be a white supremacist with neo-Nazi tattoos.
So KSI went back to the drawing board, replaced Nikolov with Pineda and the show goes on.
KSI’s comeback has been centred around building up to a grudge match with Jake Paul, 25, who is 5-0 as a prizefighter.
But Paul is yet to face a recognised boxer, something KSI is set to beat his arch rival to.
His manager Mams Taylor said: “I was like, ‘Bro, what if you fight a pro boxer before Jake Paul does’.”
But if Pineda, who is said to have had 50 amateur boxing bouts, gets it his way, he will be the one fighting Paul.
He told Viddal Riley: “If they give me the opportunity, I’m willing to fight Jake Paul.”
KSI and Luis Alcaraz Pineda at the pre-fight press conferenceCredit: Misfits Boxing
KSI comes face to face with Luis Alcaraz PinedaCredit: Misfits Boxing More

YOUTUBER Fousey returns to the boxing ring as a changed man – having transformed his body and recovered from a broken nose. The American – real name Yousef Saleh Erakat – faces online rival Deji on Saturday.
Fousey is the YouTube star who fights KSI’s younger brother DejiCredit: Misfits Boxing
Fousey has dramatically transformed his body
Fousey was left with a broken nose in his first boxing bout
They co-headline the DAZN pay-per-view event topped by Deji’s famous older brother KSI, who fights twice in one night.
Deji and KSI are two of the most recognisable characters on YouTube in Britain, with over 50MILLION subscribers combined.
But Fousey is a star in his own right, with almost 11m subscribers to his name having been a prankster pioneer on the social media app.
He first boxed in 2019 against fellow content creator Slim Albaher, losing decisively in round four of a scheduled six.

Fousey was left visibly exhausted and suffered a broken nose due to the sustained damage he took in the exhibition bout.
The injury was so severe, he had to undergo surgery but it has not stopped him from pursuing boxing.

He signed to fight Deji after the two went back-and-forth at a boxing event last year.
Deji was coming off a loss to Jake Paul in 2018 and before facing Vinnie Hacker, he called Fousey an “easy fight”.
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He later lost to Hacker and recently Alex Wassabi, leaving him winless in his three boxing bouts.
And even brother KSI has backed Fousey to leave another damning defeat on Deji’s record.
He said: “I think he’s going to lose.
“Fousey is going to keep going forward, and Deji is going to keep going back, and before you know it, the fight’s over.
“Then, Deji’s just there like ‘Oh, s***’. “I think it’s going to go to decision, and I think Fousey is going to win.”
I don’t think Deji’s ever been touched in the way I’ve touched him. As soon as he walks into it, and he feels what I bring to the tableFousey
Fousey believes he has the power to stop Deji in his tracks.
He predicted: “I think Deji’s very skilled, and very good in this sport despite the losses he’s taken.
“I think he’s going to come out and let his hands go, and that’s fine. That’s fine, everyone has a plan to let their hands go.
“But, I don’t think Deji’s ever been touched in the way I’ve touched him.
“As soon as he walks into it, and he feels what I bring to the table, I think that plan is going to go out the window.”
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Fousey had to undergo a dramatic body transformation to get himself fighting fit.
He uploaded a video on social media of his eight month transition, which left him with hulking abs and pecks.
KSI with his younger brother Deji
Deji has lost all three of his boxing bouts
Fousey training to fight DejiCredit: Misfits Boxing More