KSI didn’t absolutely perceive the controversy surrounding his knockout of Joe Fournier at Misfits Boxing 7 till he was backstage after the combat. However then he noticed a replay that confirmed to him what the remainder of the world already knew: The ultimate blow that despatched Fournier tumbling to the canvas? It got here from an elbow, rendering it unlawful underneath boxing guidelines.
“At that time, I’m simply devastated,” KSI mentioned Monday on The MMA Hour. “That’s all I take into consideration. And I’m like, this has ruined all my arduous work. Simply, it’s so annoying as a result of I labored so arduous. I look again on the combat and I regarded so good. Second spherical, I did the whole lot proper.
“That one second has simply destroyed or simply ruined the whole lot that I labored for. And I don’t know, it was simply irritating, and it actually pissed me off if I’m being sincere, as a result of I’m wanting on-line and everybody was like, ‘Elbow, elbow, forearm, you cheated, you cheat, you cheat, needs to be disqualified.’ And I’m like, bro, I simply went for a proper hook. I went for a proper hook as a result of I’m knew he was making an attempt to clinch me. I don’t know, it was irritating.”
That frustration is comprehensible, as a result of KSI almost pulled off one of many most interesting highlights of his boxing profession. The 29-year-old had Fournier useless to rights after rocking him with a flush overhand proper halfway via the second spherical of the exhibition bout. However simply as Fournier stumbled ahead to provoke a desperation clinch, KSI got here up inches quick with a follow-up proper hand, and as an alternative caught Fournier flush with a nasty, fight-ending elbow.
Fournier afterward accused KSI of throwing the illegal blow intentionally — a declare which the favored crossover boxer finds preposterous.
“I simply suppose that’s ludicrous,” KSI mentioned. “I’m profitable the combat. I’m profitable the whole lot in regards to the combat. I actually rocked you with an overhand. Why would I wish to elbow you, bro? It’s simply so ludicrous. It actually is unnecessary. And like I mentioned, it is smart if I used to be dropping the combat and I’m determined — OK, high quality. However there was no desperation.
“I used to be match, two rounds in, I used to be comfy, I hit him with a number of huge photographs, and he was shook. He was shook and he was scrambling. He wanted saving.”
Fournier has already filed an attraction with the Skilled Boxing Affiliation (PBA), which oversaw and controlled Misfits Boxing 7. An official choice concerning the matter is predicted to reach “on or earlier than” Friday afternoon, Might 19, in accordance with a PBA launch.
KSI predicts his victory will in the end be overturned right into a no-contest.
“If it’s a no-contest, high quality,” KSI mentioned. “I’ll be pissed if it’s a disqualification, as a result of I didn’t deliberately attempt to hit him with my forearm or my elbow or no matter. Like, I got here via with a proper hook to attempt to knock him out whereas he was coming in to clinch me, as a result of I knew he was going to scramble to avoid wasting his life after I hit him with an overhand.
“At the very least now Joe Fornier doesn’t appear like a loser. He might be like, ‘Ah, due to the entire no-contest, it doesn’t really matter.’ Though I used to be throughout him, however yeah.
“I’m at peace with a no-contest,” KSI continued. “I don’t actually thoughts as a result of, for me, I’m a good man. If it’s a no-context, it’s a no-contest. It’s what it’s. I don’t want a win. For me, the explanation I got here again was to knock out Jake Paul. These are all simply aspect quests to get to Jake Paul, however now I can not directly destroy Jake Paul’s legacy by beating Tommy Fury.”
Regardless, the results of Fournier’s attraction received’t change KSI’s plans for what occurs subsequent.
After calling out Tommy Fury post-fight and almost igniting an in-ring melee between the 2 fighters, KSI reiterated Monday that he’s “100%” set on preventing Fury subsequent.
Controversy or not, he has little interest in a Fournier rematch.
“As a result of I used to be simply throughout [Fournier],” KSI defined. “I used to be beating him and it was straightforward. It manner simpler than I believed it could be. And I’m identical to, what’s the purpose? Why not? And if something, most individuals are like, ‘What’s the purpose?’ The general public are like, ‘We don’t care. You beat him anyway, so combat Tommy Fury.’ Folks wish to see me get examined.
“Persons are sick and bored with me simply deleting folks. They’re like, ‘Alright, cool. Let’s see the way you do towards Tommy Fury. In case you delete him, then high quality, you’re the GOAT, after which we’ll by no means say a foul phrase once more.’ However proper now it’s like, they wish to see me get examined.”
