KSI beats Logan Paul in YouTube grudge match by split decision

KSI beats Logan Paul in YouTube grudge match by split decision as Brit recovers from fourth round knockdown to clinch win at the Staples Center

  • KSI beats Logan Paul via split decision at the Staples Center in Los Angeles
  • In a closely-fought contest, KSI ended up winning 55-56 57-54 56-55 over Paul
  • The bout was controversial as Paul was deducted two points in the fourth round
  • He had knocked down KSI but followed up with a punch while he was grounded
  • It was an entertaining fight on a night where Billy Joe Saunders and Devin Haney were made to work hard for their respective title defences  

British YouTube star KSI defeated arch rival Logan Paul in a closely fought contest at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

The pair met in a highly-anticipated fight in a bid to settle their beef following their draw at Manchester Arena in August 2018. 

This time around, though, the YouTube stars did not wear headguards and donned 10 oz gloves for the six round contest which was promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

KSI has defeated Logan Paul in a split decision victory in their YouTube grudge match 

KSI started the aggressor, swinging wildly in a bid to land an overhand right onto the chin of his bigger and stronger American foe. 

The British internet star looked to have knocked Paul down in the third round before referee Jack Reiss deemed that the American hadn’t been felled to the canvas.

Paul recovered in the fourth round to land a huge uppercut that had stunned KSI, but as the Watford-born star fell to the canvas Paul struck him again leading to Reiss deducting two points from the Ohio man.

It was another closely-fought contest, this time without headguards, as the internet sensations battled it out for bragging rights in front of millions across the world

It was another closely-fought contest, this time without headguards, as the internet sensations battled it out for bragging rights in front of millions across the world

Paul had two points deducted after striking KSI while the Brit was downed on the canvas

Paul had two points deducted after striking KSI while the Brit was downed on the canvas

KSI was on the back foot for much of the fifth before catching a second wind in the sixth and final round to end the contest on the front foot as the decision went to the judges ringside. 

One judge scored the contest 56-55 in favour of Paul while the other two scored it 57-54 and 56-55 for KSI, with the deducted two points proving to be vital in the outcome of the contest.

KSI said: ‘Last year I was scared. This time I just kept going and going.

‘They saw how much bigger he was, but I was like ‘screw that, I’m going to work my a** off!’

‘Your boy has done it. I am victorious!’

KSI was the aggressor in the opening rounds as he attempted to floor Paul with hayemakers

KSI was the aggressor in the opening rounds as he attempted to floor Paul with hayemakers

The Brit had felled the American to the canvas but referee Jack Reiss ruled out the knockdown

The Brit had felled the American to the canvas but referee Jack Reiss ruled out the knockdown

Paul fired back in the fourth round to floor KSI but a follow up punch would prove to be costly

Paul fired back in the fourth round to floor KSI but a follow up punch would prove to be costly

The 24-year-old watches on as KSI recovers in his corner after the fourth round knockdown

The 24-year-old watches on as KSI recovers in his corner after the fourth round knockdown

The biggest moment of adversity for the champion came in that fourth round but KSI, who is called JJ by his close friends, said he had to dig deep to turn it around. 

‘I’m a dog. I keep saying it,’ he said. ‘It took me about a minute or two to figure how I was but I came back. I don’t want people to think “he’s weak, he’s not a fighter” I am a fighter and I keep going.

‘I have never worked so hard man, in the ring, in camp it was tough man but I was ready and I was on fire.’

KSI ended by paying respect to his opponent with whom he has shared a combined twelve rounds of closely-fought boxing. 

‘It takes a big man to get in the ring, and you’re a big man. Thank you for a good fight bro.’

Meanwhile, Logan Paul went on to share kind words about his rival. 

‘I just want to say fair play to JJ you are one of the toughest people I know and I wish you the best,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Billy Joe Saunders defeated Marcelo Coceres to retain his WBO middleweight belt

Meanwhile, Billy Joe Saunders defeated Marcelo Coceres to retain his WBO middleweight belt

The event had garnered criticism from the boxing community for staging a fight between two celebrities with limited experience ahead of world championship boxing. 

WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders and WBC Lightweight champion Devin Haney were on the undercard and were both made to work hard for their respective victories.

Saunders, from Britain, secured an 11th round knockout of Argentine opponent  Marcelo Coceres while Haney fought the full 12 rounds to beat Alfredo Santiago. 

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