YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul are set for a rematch after their highly anticipated bout in Manchester ended in a draw.
The controversial social media rivals could not be separated after six rounds at the Manchester Arena, where over 15,000 fans were in attendance, as one ringside judge scored KSI a point ahead with the other two scoring it even, resulting in a majority draw. The contest was also screened live on YouTube for £7.50 ($10), with boxing legend Michael Buffer announcing the seven-fight card.
American Paul, 23, started the stronger but KSI (whose real name is Olajide William Olatunji) battled back in a highly charged bout that saw both fighters exchange taunts and insults throughout.
The rematch is expected to take place in the U.S. after the pair initially agreed to a two-fight deal. The fight came about after KSI called out Paul following the Britain’s debut boxing win over fellow YouTuber Joe Weller in London in February, which 1.6 million viewers streamed live.
I should have won that, lets be honest. He had the first 2 rounds on me because I started slow and that was about it. If it was 12 rounds he would have lost. Either way, it was a good fight.
— KSI (@KSIOlajidebt) August 26, 2018
KSI, 25, and Paul have 37 million YouTube subscribers between them. Paul was suspended from YouTube earlier this year after he posted images of what appeared to be a suicide victim online.
Paul’s brother Jake defeated KSI’s younger sibling Deji via TKO on the undercard and later called out singer-songwriter Chris Brown.