KSI vs Jake Paul takes new twist with veteran promoter drafted in to revive talks for £100m grudge match
KSI and Jake Paul’s blockbuster grudge bout has taken a new twist with promoter Kalle Sauerland drafted in to revive talks.
The pair of YouTubers-turned-boxers have feuded for over half a decade fuelling demand for a money-spinning showdown.
But relationships between Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian and KSI’s manager appear to be at an all-time low.
As a result, Taylor’s Misfits Boxing partner Sauerland has been given the responsibility of handling negotiations.
He helped resurrect a deal for KSI to fight Tommy Fury last year while having almost three decades of top-flight experience under his belt.
Sauerland told SunSport: “I’ve done 24 years of boxing and put on unification fights, heavyweight world championships with multiple belts.
“So I’ve sort of seen that on the traditional side, it’s no different on the other side.
“You’ve got things to manage, whether it’s weights, whether it’s purses, egos, you name it; the choice of locker room, the choice of who’s announced first.
“Those things are all part of putting a big fight together. So he hasn’t thrown me under the bus. I’m always ready to go.
“In certain fights, I do get called in to put it together, Tommy Fury was one last year, which obviously wasn’t exactly a small one.
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“It’s sometimes the old experience, there’s been three decades in boxing promotion. It can help.”
KSI’s team have claimed a fight with Paul is capable of raking in £100MILLION.
Sauerland said: “And the rest! It’s a massive fight.
“We all know that in terms of numbers you’ve got to understand this space and that the equivalent of Mayweather-Pacquiao in it.
“That’s in the traditional part of the sport. So I think it does similar numbers.”
Sauerland admitted talks are not yet underway with opposite number Bidarian.
But his brother Nisse has worked with Paul’s advisor in the past – sparking new hope of a deal coming together.
KSI, 31, has not yet returned since suffering defeat for the first time, losing a decision to Fury, 25, last October.
He was forced to pull out of his August 31 return in a wild two-on-one bout against Slim Albaher and Anthony Taylor after suffering hand injury.
Paul, 27, meanwhile returns on November 15 in a controversial clash with Mike Tyson, 58, scrutinised for the age difference.