KSI lifts lid on meeting with Turki Alalshikh and teases fight talks… but blasts Jake Paul as ‘disgrace to boxing’
KSI has lifted the lid on his meeting with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh – and revealed their shared hatred for Jake Paul.
Alalshikh has helped turn the sport around thanks to his deep pockets – offering enough for even the most bitter of rivals to work together.
But the powerful Saudi advisor has made it clear he is not a fan of new-age influencer boxing – spearheaded by the likes of KSI and Paul.
And Alalshikh was particularly critical of Paul’s controversial win over 58-year-old legend Mike Tyson last November.
So fans were stunned when Alalshikh posted a video meeting with KSI and teasing working together for a fight in America.
KSI revealed he was able to convince Alalshikh into changing his opinion after Paul left a bitter taste in the money-man’s mouth.
He said: “I think Jake Paul’s ruined it. I think Jake Paul ruined it completely, him fighting an OAP.
“Mike Tyson was not meant to be in that ring by any means and it was a disgrace. A disgrace to boxing and stuff like that angers Turki.
“You can see that Turki’s very passionate when it comes to boxing and Mike Tyson’s a legend, you don’t do stuff like that to a legend even if you know money’s been thrown at you.
“It was a disgusting moment and stuff like that annoyed him and Jake was also trying to fight Canelo and trying to make boxing a circus.
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“I feel like that’s what Jake Paul is trying to do and I think that is one of the reasons why he sees the whole side of the internet, YouTube boxing side is just a bit of a mess and that’s why he didn’t want to touch it.
“But when he talked to me, he realised, ‘Oh, there’s another side to it.’ There’s people who actually take it seriously.
“I’ve got a lot of things going on, but when it comes to boxing, whenever I go into the ring, take it seriously and I’m fighting serious people
“That’s just how it is. I think me and him bonded quite well and we have some very exciting things in the future for sure.”
KSI could face backlash for his comments due to his level of opposition in the past.
He even signed to fight Wayne Bridge, 44, for his next bout until the ex-Chelsea star pulled out after his infamous feud with John Terry was referenced.
And Dillon Danis, 31, a 2-0 MMA fighter who lost his boxing debut to Logan Paul, 29, replaced Bridge to face KSI on March 29 in Manchester.
But KSI – who did fight 10-0 Tommy Fury in his last bout – claimed a lack of willing rivals left him scrambling to find an opponent for his return.
Paul, 28, meanwhile is 11-1 in the ring with his only defeat also coming to Fury, 25, via split-decision in 2023.
And he suffered heartbreak after boxing icon Canelo Alvarez, 34, snubbed their fight deal to instead sign with Alalshikh.
KSI admits not even Alalshikh could guarantee him an overdue grudge match against Paul – but he boasts that he does not need him anyway.
He said: “I know Turki and Jake don’t see eye to eye. It could be difficult but you never know.
“I think for me, I have some more exciting things and some bigger fights than Jake Paul.”