Joe Fournier has insisted he will replace Dillon Danis if he pulls out of his upcoming fight against YouTube star KSI.
Fournier, 39, holds a professional record of 9-0 but is mostly known for his exhibition clash with former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion David Haye last September. The pair went eight rounds in an uneventful affair as Haye won a unanimous decision against his pal, with Fournier earning $6million for the farcical fight.
The 'boxing billionaire' makes his fighting return on the undercard of KSI's upcoming Misfits x DAZN event on January 14, in which the YouTuber faces Conor McGregor's training partner Danis. Fournier announced he will fight former UFC flop Tony Christodoulou on the card whilst adding he is ready to fill in for Danis if he needs to.
"It’s official back on pay-per-view and back in London January 14 Wembley Arena," Fournier wrote on Instagram. "I’m smashing through Tony Christodoulou and onto KSI in my next fight if he doesn’t get scared like the rest of them! Or if Dillon Danis, doesn’t show up Tony gets a life line and I SMASH KSI sooner."
There is concern as to whether Danis will pull out of his fight against KSI having no-showed the press conference in London earlier this week. The multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion missed his flight from New York after battling influenza and also failed to join the conference via Zoom link, later telling KSI: "F*** your press conference. The king does what he wants. January 14 I'm gonna dance on your head."
Who wins on January 14: KSI or Dillon Danis? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below!
Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman Boxing, who is co-promoting the upcoming Misfits event, played down suggestions that Bellator star Danis would withdraw from the fight after missing the press conference. The promoter said the event would not be delayed if that was the case and they do have a contracted replacement in place.
"As a promoter, of course we always have a contracted backup around KSI because he doesn't have a schedule like a normal boxer," Sauerland told Mirror Fighting . "He goes off on a world tour and has to go and do that straight after his fight so we can't just go 'oh we'll push the fight back a few weeks'."
