KSI to face ex-footballer Bridge in boxing match

Former England footballer Wayne Bridge is set to have a boxing match against well-known YouTuber KSI on March 29th. The venue for the bout is yet to be announced, with the news being revealed at the Misfits boxing event in Manchester last Saturday.

Bridge, 44, who earned 36 caps for England and played for Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City, retired in 2014. He previously participated in a charity boxing match against TV personality Spencer Matthews for Sport Relief in 2018.

KSI, whose real name is Olajide William Olatunji, has participated in several boxing matches, including a bout against Tommy Fury in 2023. In that match, KSI lost by points, but the fight was not sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) as KSI does not hold a professional boxing license.

The majority of KSI's boxing career has been outside of professional competition, and it is currently unclear which organization will oversee his match with Bridge. KSI's fight against Fury was overseen by the Professional Boxing Association (PBA), but Misfits has since ceased working with that organization. In recent years, crossover fights involving influencers and social media personalities have drawn large audiences, although some have questioned whether these matches damage the sport's credibility.

Last November, Jake Paul defeated 58-year-old former world champion Mike Tyson in a fight in Texas, drawing over 70,000 spectators and millions of viewers via Netflix.