YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul battled to a draw in their first fight last year and now they will now run it again, this time in the pro ranks and with a lot of added support.
The two will fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on November 9 and it will not only be streamed on DAZN but also have Matchroom Boxing as a promoter. It will be the professional debut for both internet celebrities after they passed medicals.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said he took the opportunity to be able to be a part of a major event, but said he wanted to make sure both KSI and Paul underwent the same procedure pro boxers underwent for their fights in anticipation for this rematch.
?13 months ago when the first fight took place I smirked and pondered how embarrassing it would be to stage this event in a 20,000 seater arena. What I saw was a phenomenon; a sold out arena, over one million PPV buys but more importantly an energy of a new audience to the sport of boxing. When I was asked to be involved in the rematch it got me excited but I had some requests to help integrate the two audiences. I requested that both fighters turn professional and undergo the same medicals that any other fighter would. I asked that the fighters lose the headguards and use 10 oz gloves, if we are going to do this then let?s do it properly. Both men obliged and now they prepare for war on November 9 - this event will be huge, a World championship card beneath an event that will create a hype for boxing not seen in the US for a long time. Staples Center will be sold out and a new audience will join our great sport and tune in live on DAZN,? Hearn said.
The two YouTubers feuded for months back in 2018 and it resulted in the two having an amateur boxing match in England. The fight headlined an event at the Manchester Arena in August 2018, with Michael Buffer working as the ring announcer and after six rounds, the two boxers fought to a majority draw (58-57 KSI, 57-57, 57-57). On the undercard of that August 2018 card, which did more than a million pay-per-view buys, was another amateur fight between Deji and Jake Paul, who are the brothers of KSI and Logan, respectively.