KSI, the 31-year-old YouTube star turned boxer, is facing a tough moment lately. After pulling out of his March 2025...
A SINGLE Instagram comment kick-started the “YouTube boxing” phenomenon — and changed boxing forever.
It all began in 2017, when Joe Weller fought his friend Theo Baker for a YouTube video. KSI commented:
“Lemme fight the winner haha.”
Weller won, and on February 3, 2018, KSI defeated him at a sold-out Copper Box Arena, with the fight later attracting more than 23 MILLION YouTube views.
Afterward, KSI called out Jake and Logan Paul.
Jake fought KSI’s younger brother Deji, while Logan faced KSI in August 2018 at Manchester Arena. Their six-round fight ended in a majority draw and reportedly sold around 1.2–1.3 million pay-per-views.
In 2019, promoter Eddie Hearn took things to another level, turning KSI and Logan professional for their rematch on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN.
KSI won by split decision.
From there, YouTube boxing exploded.
Logan Paul went on to face Floyd Mayweather in 2021, while Jake Paul built a professional boxing career against names including Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Tommy Fury.
Then, in 2022, KSI returned and helped launch Misfits Boxing and the MF & DAZN: X Series, transforming influencer boxing into a full-time crossover boxing industry with regular events, championships and new stars.
Jake Paul pushed the movement even further, fighting Mike Tyson on Netflix in 2024 before eventually facing former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in 2025.
By September 2026, YouTube boxing had grown into something far bigger than its original name.
YouTubers, streamers, MMA fighters, professional athletes and established boxers had all become part of the crossover boxing world.
And to think…
It all started with one comment:
“Lemme fight the winner haha.”
The rest is history.