KSI landed a hard elbow on the face of Joe Fournier to win his fourth consecutive crossover bout by stoppage, proving many in the boxing world to be correct when they point out the dangers these events pose.
The seventh Misfits promotion – broadcast partner DAZN, overseen by the Professional Boxing Association and therefore not pro fights – was the usual mix of bizarre entertainment and straight up ridiculousness tinged with some genuine talent and cringeworthy actions.
Headlining was KSI, who is at the helm of this sideshow boxing company alongside Mams Taylor and Kalle Sauerland. He fought Joe Fournier, determined to stay on the path towards a fight with Jake Paul – perhaps the one to end it all, some traditionalist fans will hope.
Fournier entered the ring as a 9-0 pro fighter, but the names on his record had a consecutive 116 losses and just 29 wins. There’s also a failed doping test from 2016 noted. He’s best known in the sport for having an exhibition against his pal, David Haye.
This was KSI’s fourth contest – his second defending a cruiserweight title that his company created and had him fight for in its first event.
He was on his toes from the start, swinging for Fournier with a stoppage on his mind. Fournier – 40 – wasn’t up to much at all.
It made it to the second. KSI landed a legitimate overhand right clean, and Fournier felt it. He stayed up though, at least until they met on the inside and the YouTuber-turned-fighter landed an elbow that caused Fournier to collapse, his eyes rolling back in his head. The referee, Gareth Morris, gave him a standard count before announcing KSI as the winner.
I respect boxing too much to respect what that was. If that was indeed a real boxing match it will be ruled a no contest or disqualification.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 13, 2023
The broadcast put it to him that ‘some of Fournier’s fans’ were saying it was an elbow. KSI said no, ‘he took his soul.’ Tommy Fury got in the ring to set up the next fight with a bit of pro-wrestling-esque trash talk, and that was that. There was no mention of an elbow in the final interview of the night, despite multiple replay angles being available.