I guess it’s a thing now for influencers and YouTube personalities to step inside the boxing ring. It became so fashionable that KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, founded crossover boxing promotion Misfits Boxing and is currently CEO. So I guess it’s not much of a surprise that KSI is the promotion’s reigning cruiserweight champion. KSI did have to win a few fights to get the recognition doing so with a second-round KO of English rapper and crossover boxer Swarmz. On the same night, KSI won the vacant MFB title beating Luis Alcaraz Pineda.
Stepping into the ring as a big underdog, KSI will definitely have his hands full against Tommy Fury. Though his list of opponents isn’t what a boxing aficionado would call stellar, Fury is a boxer with nine wins in as many bouts. A reality TV star himself, Fury is a good fit for the Misfits and is coming off a split decision win over Jake Paul back in February. With more experience in the ring along with an undefeated record, Fury hit the board as a +400 favorite in the main event of MF & DAZN: X Series 10.
KSI vs. Tommy Fury Betting Odds
KSI +292
Tommy Fury -400
The 6-round fight for the MFB cruiserweight title between current champ KSI ( 4-0-1, 3 KOs ) and Tommy Fury ( 9-0, 5 KOs ) will take place at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, on Saturday, October 14, 2023 and will air on DAZN pay-per-view.
KSI vs. Tommy Fury Fight Preview
When crossover boxing became a thing I’m not sure many took it seriously. Even now that KSI’s Misfits Boxing has put on several shows it hasn’t quite reached mainstream. In a way it kind of reminds me of the Celebrity Deathmatch animated series featuring clay figures of celebrities going after each other. However, it’s a serious ordeal for the fighters and using their internet popularity and celebrity status brings added intrigue, viewers and bettors to the action.
This fight was originally slated as an exhibition since the British Boxing Board failed to recognize it and did not sanction it. However, with all of KSI’s earlier bouts sanctioned by the Pro Boxing Association, the fight was listed as a professional bout on BoxRec.com. Either way, KSI and Fury will do battle with one goal in mind.
Fury is the big betting favorite due to his pedigree as a boxer. He was a fighter before taking some time out of the ring to join a British reality TV series. He was unbeaten in two fights at the time of his hiatus and later returned to continue his career inside the ring. Fury is no stranger to the circus of crossover boxing having scored a split decision win over Jake Paul in Saudi Arabia in February, handing the American YouTuber his first professional loss after successful bouts against former athletes from different sports.
For Fury the victory over Paul validated his place as a fighter and not a performer. Fury was knocked down in the eighth round but did more than enough damage on Paul to earn the scorecard of two judges. Fury even made enough of an impression that Paul had his own thoughts on the fight saying, “I think Tommy knocks him out in like less than five rounds.”
Fury and KSI have been going after each other since KSI knocked out Joe Fournier in May in what was his last bout. The KO was later overturned and the fight ruled a no-contest due to an accidental elbow strike. KSI could be a more formidable opponent for Fury having never lost a pro fight and beating Logan Paul in a split decision in his first pro bout. KSI also had a majority draw with Paul in an amateur duel in February 2018.
Bet KSI vs. Tommy Fury
If there’s a competition that results in a decision, you can find a place to make a wager on it. That’s the case with this crossover boxing promotion with interest generated by the millions of people following these influencers. KSI is taking his career inside the ring seriously and training to retain his MFB title, but he’s never faced a true boxer. Buying into the hype would be easy, but Fury is having no part of it and with his attention on winning the fight rather than getting clicks and views, I have to back Fury.
Boxing Odds Pick: Tommy Fury / Decision
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