Jake Paul explains why he accepted rival KSI's demands for grudge fight

06 February 2023 , 10:56

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Jake Paul explains why he accepted rival KSI's demands for grudge fight

Jake Paul agreed to YouTube rival KSI's demands to ensure he would not avoid fighting him.

Paul and KSI have been long-term rivals ever since the Briton called out the 'Problem Child' during his feud with his rival's brother Logan during the rise of YouTube boxing. Since then the pair have frequently teased a fight, and last year agreed to a winner-takes-all deal to settle their feud.

Any fight between the pair is unlikely to be until late this year with Jake Paul fighting Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia on February 26, but yesterday negotiations appeared to be revived again. The American tweeted insisting the conditions he would agree to fight KSI, which read: "I will agree to fight KSI at 180lb plus his request for a 10lb rehydration clause.

"BUT it has to be 100 per cent winner takes all like he requested. ZERO to the loser. ZERO." KSI then replied in agreement with a series of laughing emojis, adding: "So you gave into my demands and now want to give me more money too? You got yourself a deal idiot."

Paul then explained why he had in fact accepted KSI's proposal from last year that the winner of the fight is paid both fighters purses and walks away with everything. He concluded: "Yeah I gave into your 'demands' to try and give you an advantage for you to actually agree to fight me. Again ZERO to the loser. Not you, not your fake a** promotion."

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Paul has been campaigning for a fight with KSI since the call-out but the British star has only just returned to the influencer boxing scene as he took time out to focus on his hugely-successful YouTube and music careers. In the meantime, Paul has built up a professional record of six victories including over Anderson Silv a and Tyron Woodley.

Jake Paul has verbally agreed a deal to fight YouTube rival KSI (DAZN)

Who do you think will win - KSI or Jake Paul? Let us know in the comments section below

Despite his new experience, KSI has firmly stated that he believes he is the A-side in negotiations after making his own return with three wins over Swarmz, Luis Pineda and FaZe Temperrr. "Weight-wise, I'd love it to be 176lb, 177lb, but 180lb sounds perfectly fair," he said when assessing the terms of any contract for the mega-fight. "Maybe even slap a rehydration clause - I know he'd want that!

"It has to be in the UK, I think I'm definitely the A-Side, I walk second, ring size I think it should be a nice 20-foot ring and I think that's it that's on my mind. I'm sure there's other things money-wise that Mams [Taylor, his manager] and Nakisa [Bidarian, Paul's manager] can deal with. 50-50 seems fair. I don't think it should be 60-40 in anyone's favour or anything. 50-50 makes sense."

Ben Davies