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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Viddal Riley to make "silent bet" with YouTube star KSI for next fight

YouTube star Viddal Riley will make a private bet with KSI ahead of his sixth professional fight.

Riley will return to the ring on June 11 in London as he looks to extend his unbeaten run in the cruiserweight division. The 24-year-old made a £10,000 bet with KSI - whom he coached to victory over fellow content creator Logan Paul in 2019 - before his last fight in February.

Riley dropped Willbeforce Shihepo but was unable to secure the all-important finish, instead settling for points victory. This meant he did not earn the £10,000 bonus offered to him by KSI - real name JJ Olatunji.

And next month, Riley will not publicly reveal his wager with Olatunji until the fight is over so as to not give his upcoming rival added motivation.

"Silently, silently this time I will be having a bet with him silently," Riley told Mirror Fighting at an open workout ahead of his latest bow. "I don't want to be giving my opponent extra motivation to stay in the ring. I don't want him watching the interview and thinking he can take advantage of me. I am doing it on the low-down this time and me and JJ will just do it over private message on WhatsApp."

Riley orchestrated KSI's victory against Paul back in 2019 in his only professional fight, before turning his attention back to his own career. He was signed to Mayweather Promotions during his time Stateside, scoring victory in his three fights before his progress was derailed.

What did you make of Viddal Riley's previous performance? Let us know in the comments section below

Viddal Riley and KSI (Instagram/IsItRil)

The cruiserweight was forced to return to domestic shores after the coronavirus pandemic caused havoc around the world. However upon his return home, Riley signed for rising promotion BOXXER and made his debut against Shihepo on the undercard of Amir Khan's pay-per-view clash with Kell Brook.

And Riley intends to use his frustration with his last performance to put on a show in London. "I was frustrated and it shows in my performance that I was frustrated," he added. "Because of that frustration I didn't get him out of there. I realised frustration in the ring is counter-productive for me.

"I need to just keep level-headed and focus on how I know how to play the game. So as long as I play the game right and remain calm in there I'm sure I can get my next opponent out of there. I will put on a show this time that is what I am saying to everybody.

"I am going to show skill, there is people in my division with power and people in my division are tough. But I feel like what separates me from them is skill. I am not saying they don't have skill but I feel like my skill is impressive so it is all about me showing that, and that is what makes me difference to everyone else."

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