After years at the center of influencer boxing, KSI has officially stepped away from the sport. The social media star hasn’t fought since his 2023 loss to Tommy Fury, and now says his time in the ring is over. In a candid interview on The Ranveer Show, the 32-year-old opened up about why he fell out of love with boxing, why a long-rumored mega-fight with Jake Paul never happened, and why he’s returning to what he enjoys most — creating content.
Losing the Love for the Fight Game
KSI admitted that boxing pushed him into a version of himself he didn’t like. Selling fights required aggression, controversy, and emotional intensity — and he says that came at a personal cost.
“I felt like I had to be the nightmare,” he explained. “You have to bring out emotion in people to sell fights, and I did some horrible things during that time. That’s the fight game. I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t like who I became.”
Even the money wasn’t enough to keep him in the sport. KSI revealed that after his fight with Tommy Fury, he gave all of his earnings to his trainers. He also disclosed he was once offered a reported $30 million to fight Jake Paul — and still turned it down.
“These guys can’t give me any amount of money to fight again,” he said. “When it comes to boxing, I’m done.”
The Jake Paul Fight That Never Happened
A showdown between KSI and Jake Paul was once seen as the biggest possible bout in influencer boxing. KSI said his main motivation for returning to the ring was to make that fight happen and to help build Misfits Boxing, the promotion he co-founded.
But the matchup never materialized. KSI claims repeated delays, shifting conditions, and disagreements — including weight demands — ultimately made him question why he was still trying.
“I was ready to fight Jake. I was there. Let’s go. Instead he fought Nate Diaz. Then the goal posts kept moving. I just thought, what am I doing? I’m done.”
The Brutal Reality of Fight Camps
Perhaps the most revealing part of KSI’s reflection was his description of training camps. He explained how 12-week camps slowly grind fighters down — physically and mentally.
At first, training felt exciting. But as weeks passed, exhaustion built, injuries piled up, and motivation collapsed. By the later weeks, he said, waking up felt like torture and his body began shutting down from the strain.
“By week seven or eight, you’re asking yourself, ‘Why am I doing this? I hate this.’ Physically you’re cooked. Mentally you’re cooked.”
And then comes fight night — the nerves, the crowd, the pressure of people betting on him — all before stepping into the ring with jelly legs and forced confidence.
“Win, and it’s the best feeling ever. Lose, and you feel like you wasted months of your life.”
A Pioneer of Influencer Boxing Steps Aside
KSI played a defining role in launching influencer boxing. His 2018 bout with Joe Weller and his blockbuster amateur fight with Logan Paul helped prove that internet personalities could sell major combat sports events. That wave eventually helped launch Jake Paul’s professional boxing career and reshaped sports entertainment.
Now, though, KSI says his journey in competitive fighting has reached its end. He’ll continue to grow Misfits Boxing as a promoter and remain a major entertainment figure — but the gloves are officially hung up.
“I’ve found something I enjoy so much more,” he said. “And that’s making content.”
