KSI could snub a grudge meeting with YouTube rival Jake Paul to instead pursue his conqueror Tommy Fury.
YouTube star KSI - real name JJ Olatunji - has made a successful return to the ring having defeated Luis Pineda, Swarmz and FaZe Temperrr with the sole ambition of settling his rivalry with Paul. However the possibility of a mega-fight appeared to dampen slightly with Paul suffering his first professional defeat against Fury in Saudi Arabia last month.
KSI had already suggested prior to the bout that he would be open to instead facing the ex-Love Island star if he was to progress beyond Paul. And in the most public display of his intentions yet, KSI tweeted: "At this point, after I beat a pro boxer on May 13, I’m gonna go straight for Tommy Fury. Jake Paul is being long with negotiations."
Both Paul and KSI have verbally agreed to a winner-takes-all deal on two separate occasions, but negotiations are understood to be proving more difficult behind closed doors. A fight was initially targeted for the end of the year between KSI and Paul, but the 'Problem Child' could face a new route which could involve a second meeting with Fury.
It is expected KSI will first return to the ring this spring with professional boxer Joe Fournier currently the front-runner to receive the call. Paul could face Fury again at a similar time with the winner of both fights set to progress into a clash later in the year which will likely be held at a stadium in the UK.
Paul suggested after his fight with Fury that he would initially park his rivalry with KSI to one side while he tries to execute a revenge plan of his own against Fury. It remains unclear exactly how the American intends to overturn the loss, but a fight with his influencer rival will likely still be huge irrespective of the result.
Who would you rather see KSI fight - Jake Paul or Tommy Fury? Let us know in the comments section below
KSI's coach Alexis Demetriades has insisted that the fight with Paul is still worth £100 million and will be as big irrespective of the pair's separate feuds with Fury. He told Sky Sports: "KSI's got a lot of power in both of his hands and has improved massively with it. He's not one-dimensional or a one-handed fighter as some of these guys are.
"I have no doubt in my mind that KSI would put Jake Paul and Tommy Fury to sleep. If it doesn't happen at the end of the year, it's going to be because of the Jake Paul team. It won't be because of us. We've signed off arenas, so we want that fight. KSI versus Jake Paul has to happen. If you're realistic about it, it's a £100million fight. It's enormous."
