Former super-middleweight champion, George Groves, has revealed his thoughts on the upcoming ‘influencer boxing’ showdown between Tommy Fury and KSI.
Fury defeated Jake Paul back in February and has since announced his intentions to put an end to the influencer side of the sport with a win over the British equivalent, KSI.
However, speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, Groves explained his belief that Fury – 9-0 – is as much of a ‘YouTuber’ boxer as anyone.
“People in the industry say Tommy Fury is a professional boxer, but I disagree. I think he’s a YouTuber. He’s affiliated with professional boxers through his family, and he’s got a Board of Control licence, but he’s a YouTube fighter.
He’s known for being in YouTube fights. Now he’s fighting KSI, who is a YouTuber. He’s not a boxer, he’s probably not even a part time boxer. Just own it. Vidal Riley has owned it; he really wants to be a professional boxer.”
“I’d much rather put my efforts into being a better boxer than a better YouTuber, and I don’t think Fury does that. I think he’s more concerned with YouTuber status and I think that celebrity world comes more naturally to him than boxing, and once you’re in it to the length and depths that he is, you can’t come back from that.
I’d make him a Youtuber boxer rather than a pro boxer. And I don’t think this fight with KSI is as easy as what they make out.”
As for a prediction, many feel that Fury should be able to deal with his opponent handily. Groves, however, believes the underdog could ‘outfox’ him.
“KSI’s light and agile enough on his feet. If he backs himself in this fight he might give Fury a run for his money. I haven’t seen an awful lot of Fury.
I saw KSI’s last fight against Joe Fournier, he’s light and agile, he might be up for it and he could outbox and outfox Fury.”
KSI-Fury takes place on Saturday night at Manchester Arena and can be watched live on DAZN pay-per-view for a price of £19.99.