YouTube boxer KSI has leaned on the fact he trained for a southpaw opponent as his reason for snubbing big names for a replacement when Dillon Danis pulled out of their scheduled fight.
KSI made his return to the ring last summer, and has now been forced to change opponent for both of his comeback events after Alex Wassabi and now Danis were unable to make their commitment to fight him. He replaced Wassabi with two low-level opponents, but is taking on an active boxer in Faze Temperr, a 6'4" southpaw, tomorrow night.
Temperrr, whose real name is Thomas Oliveira, has fought three times since March of last year, winning a retroactive decision against King Kenny in his debut before being stopped by Slim Albaher back in August. He returned in November on late notice to knock out Overtflow, and was drafted in late again to face KSI in his hometown this weekend.
"I don't think it matters southpaw, orthodox, I'm going to win anyway," KSI told Mirror Fighting . "That's my mindset anyway and how I feel. I do not hate Temperrr at all, I guess I do sometimes have a lot of hatred towards my opponent but with him I'm more calm and collected.
"He's an OG, he was there around the time I was starting YouTube, started Faze near the time when I started Sidemen etc so we both go way back. We're cool, but this Saturday when we get in the ring I become 'The Nightmare'. I don't really see any of these guys as difficult."
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And that lack of difficulty, he says, extends to other fighters that fans have pushed for him to take on including YouTube boxing knockout artist Slim, as well as professional fighters like Joe Fournier or Tyron Woodley. Fans were keen to see the UFC legend, or 9-0 Fournier who was once ranked with the WBA at light-heavyweight, drafted in and were disappointed by the replacement.
"People say Slim? I don't see him as difficult," he continued. "People say Woodley? I don't see him as difficult. Joe Fournier? I don't see him as difficult. It's annoying because I wish Dillon Danis pulled out a month ago, rather than ten days before. I trained so much for a southpaw so it made no sense for me to switch to an orthodox fighter.
"People go 'why wouldn't you fight Woodley or Slim?' Because I literally trained for a southpaw. With my next opponent, I'll be training for an orthodox fighter which will give me more options in case somebody does pull out at which point we could just fly anyone in to fight."
