In a recent candid interview, KSI has spoken publicly about the lingering frustration from his controversial professional boxing defeat to Tommy Fury in 2023, describing the experience as a “waste of f*cking time” while also claiming his bitter rival Jake Paul initially believed he had won the fight.
The high-stakes bout, officially billed as Judgement Day and part of the MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – The Prime Card, took place at the Manchester Arena on October 14, 2023.
The six-round cruiserweight contest saw Fury, the professional boxer and younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, declared the winner by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 57–56.
For KSI, born Olajide Olatunji, the result was a bitter pill to swallow, a sentiment he laid bare while discussing the “scary” and “traumatic” reality of his boxing career.
Reflecting on the immediate aftermath, KSI revealed the raw anger that consumed him. “That’s why I kicked the board after the Fury fight,” he admitted, “because there was so much frustration after that because I was there like, ‘these f*cking judges have f*cked me'”. This frustration was compounded by a surprising source: his longtime antagonist Jake Paul.
According to KSI, Paul, who lost a split decision to Tommy Fury earlier in 2023, initially posted support for him in the fight’s aftermath. “It’s like to the point where I even had Jake Paul already, you know, trying to make an excuse for me winning because he thought I’d won,” KSI stated. “Then he deleted the tweet after he saw that I had lost… like f*ck, like that was just there like, ‘Are you f*cking serious?'”.
The psychological toll of the defeat extended beyond the arena.
In a separate reflection on his YouTube channel, KSI admitted to breaking down in tears upon returning home. “As soon as I got back home I was angry, disappointed and eventually I just broke down and started crying, it wasn’t fair, but life isn’t fair, am I right?” he said.
He found some solace in the widespread belief from figures in combat sports and fans that he deserved the victory, but the official loss stood. KSI also submitted an official appeal to overturn the result, which was later rejected.
More than a year later, KSI claims to have found a measure of peace, albeit with a competitive edge. “I’m kind of… I’m just over it now. It is what it is. You can’t win them all,” he conceded in the recent interview.
However, he concluded with a final comparison to his conqueror, framing the loss in terms of their broader careers. “I compare my career to Tommy’s and I’d say I’m still winning,” he declared, suggesting that his cultural and commercial success outside the ring remains undefeated.
The feeling of animosity appears to be mutual. Tommy Fury, who is set to release a documentary titled Tommy: The Good. The Bad. The Fury., recently reiterated his disdain for KSI, bluntly stating, “I hate him,” and expressing a lack of interest in the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s activities.