KSI and Fury were separated in a cage this week (Picture: Getty)
Tommy Fury and KSI meet this weekend on a huge night for influencer boxing in Manchester.
On a card that also features a heated showdown between Logan Paul and Dillon Danis in the co-main event, Fury will seek to silence his rival after months of verbal insults between the two and a week’s worth of chaos leading up to fight night.
Fury has already beaten one prominent influencer in Jake Paul this year, edging a split decision win in Saudi Arabia in February. This will be KSI’s first fight against a ‘legitimate’ professional boxer, with the former Love Island star determined to defend the family name.
Here, some of the biggest names in boxing past and present give their predictions ahead of fight night.
David Haye – former heavyweight champion
‘I think KSI beats him. Everybody just believes Tommy’s so much better.
‘The best name on his record is Jake Paul, and that was a close fight in which he got knocked down. So it’s not like he has this depth of experience.
Fury has a 9-0 record (Picture: Getty)
‘I think everybody’s overrating Tommy and very much underrating KSI, and that gives KSI a massive advantage. I believe it’s gonna be a big shock.’
Verdict? KSI win
Anthony Joshua – two-time heavyweight champion
‘Tommy Fury vs. KSI, it’s a real 50/50 fight.
‘I would sway towards KSI, but then if I value experience, I think Tommy should pull it off because he’s coming from a fighting family, but KSI’s been banging people out though.
‘He beat Logan Paul who’s big and strong, went the rounds with Mayweather as well Logan did. It’s a real 50/50 fight, for this one I’m sitting on the fence.’
Verdict? On the fence
Joshua impressed with seeing KSI ‘banging people out’ (Picture: Getty)
Tony Bellew – former cruiserweight champion
‘I think this will be the hardest fight of his career because JJ (KSI) has something about him where he will just let his hands go,’ said Bellew, as per the Express.
‘Jake Paul wouldn’t let his hands go but I think KSI will. So while I’m predicting a win for Tommy Fury, it’s not with any real certainty. It’s only a six-round fight, so I think they might both just let their hands go.’
Verdict? Fury win
Amir Khan – former world champion
‘He [Fury] comes from a boxing family, he’s a better fighter and he’s got the power and the skill-set to knock out these influencers.
‘I think it’s a miss-match because he’s the fighter that has been doing this since he was young. The influencers are going to get hurt one day when they’re taking big fights against proper boxers.’
Verdict? Fury win
Jake Paul – Fury’s last opponent
‘I think he’s going to get knocked out by Tommy in less than five rounds.
‘I mean [KSI] is doing these gimmick WWE fights up until now. Tommy is his first real test, but who knows, he might throw an elbow on Tommy, too.’
Verdict? Fury win
Fury beat Paul on a split decision in February (Picture: Getty)
Ricky Hatton – former world champion
‘At the end of the day, Tommy is the professional boxer and KSI and Jake Paul are YouTubers. I certainly expect Tommy to win. I trained with Tommy for a fair bit and he’s very talented, very good. I watched a bit of footage of KSI and it’s the first time I had seen him. He’s a little bit all over the show and that could cause Tommy a few problems but I can’t honestly see anything other than a Tommy Fury win and coming through.
‘He’s got very good boxing skills and KSI might cause a headache over the first couple of rounds but ultimately when it comes to boxing skills Tommy has got the better ability.’
Verdict? Fury win
Derek Chisora – heavyweight contender
‘This fight, I see a knockout. I see the knockout coming for my friend JJ. He’s got more power in both hands than before.’
Verdict? KSI win
Frazer Clarke – heavyweight contender
‘I think KSI will struggle on Saturday night. But his best chance in this fight is the fact that he is still a novice, still very unorthodox in his style. If I was him or a member of his team, I would be telling him not to try and outbox this guy, keep doing the things you aren’t usually meant to do in a boxing ring, be unorthodox, hit him wherever and whenever you can.
‘Tommy is a far superior boxer but I am not sure if he is as fit as KSI because those boys train ridiculously hard.
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‘His engine won’t be a problem, but maybe the skill level and experience will come into it. Tommy will need to put him in his place.’
Verdict? Fury win
Result? Fury 5-2 KSI
MORE : Tommy Fury hits out at ‘classless’ KSI for spitting at his father John Fury
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