Liam O'Dell
Aug 02, 2024
iCelebrity News / VideoElephant
After days of speculation and rumours, rapper, YouTube content creator and boxer KSI (real name Olajide âJJâ Olatunji) has confirmed that his fight against both Sulieman âSlimâ Albaher and Anthony Taylor on 31 August in Dublin has been cancelled due to his suffering an undisclosed âinjuryâ.
Rumours around the fate of the 17th Misfits Boxing event spread after promotional posters and tweets were reportedly deleted from social media accounts associated with the event, and Albaher released a video on Monday titled âMy Fight with KSI is Cancelledâ.
In the five-minute video, Albaher branded KSI âdisrespectfulâ for acting like ânothing is going onâ on social media.
He said: âImagine just chasing a fight for years, finally getting the opportunity, doing a whole press conference, face off, going to England, training your ass off for weeks, missing your whole New York City beautiful summer, just for it to fall on your face like that?â
Well, confirmation as to the future of the fight came from KSI himself on Thursday afternoon, when the Sidemen member said the bout it âoffâ due to his âbattling with an injuryâ since he began training for the event.
âUnfortunately this has worsened during camp which is why you havenât seen my usual enthusiasm. Despite my best efforts to push through the pain, it has reached a point where I can no longer spar or even hit pads or do bag work. On my doctorâs orders, I have been advised to withdraw from Misfits 017 at the 3Arena in Dublin on August 31st,â he said.
In the lengthy statement on Twitter/X, KSI added he will be âbackâ to fighting âsoonâ and apologised to fans, Albaher and Taylor, as well as âeveryone involved who might feel let down by this decisionâ.
He continued: âThe event will still go ahead! Misfits 017 marks our two-year anniversary, so weâll make sure itâs special. In addition to the fights, Iâll be commentating and performing some of my new songs with some exciting surprises.â
The âHolidayâ singer said anyone who is unhappy with KSIâs new role in the event can request refunds via their point of purchase, with Misfits adding they are available to ticket holders until next Thursday.
âI canât wait to see you there and celebrate this special occasion together! Thank you for your understanding and continued support,â he concluded.
However, many werenât interested in the detailed statement, with people responding that they werenât âreading all thatâ and asking for it to be summarised âin one sentence":
Meanwhile Taylor was praised for his response to the statement in a now-deleted X/Twitter post, in which he said he wished his former opponent â[nothing] but good healthâ.
Albaher is yet to comment publicly on the news.
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