It remains one of the biggest puzzles in crossover boxing. KSI and Jake Paul, perhaps two of the biggest names in the genre of influencer boxing, are yet to exchange jabs. They have traded barbs online, though. Nevertheless, fans have been entertaining this poser for quite some time—when are the two going to fight, or, for that matter, will they ever fight at all?

Last year, in a span of eight months, both ‘The Problem Child’ and KSI faced a common foe: Tommy Fury. Later, chasing boxing greatness, after the Nate Diaz fight, Jake Paul increasingly started fighting boxers, although semi-retired ones, and is now scheduled for an epic battle with none other than ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in November. KSI, on the other hand, has yet to return after the Fury bout. In his latest interview, he spilled the beans on the strained dynamics between him and the Ohioan.

Jake Paul and KSI: Navigating Differences

Perhaps the host was curious to understand whether there remained any scope for setting aside their difference. Given the positive conversations about empathy, understanding, and building connections, he asked KSI why the conflict with Jake Paul still persisted. “I think, for me and Jake, you never know what can happen in the future, but I feel like there’s this competitiveness between us where he thinks he can beat me; I think I can beat him, and it’s just been unresolved,” replied the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Just to cite an example, he shared how his relationship with ‘The Problem Child’ elder brother Logan Paul evolved. Back in the day, when it all began, the two fought each other twice. The first one in 2018 went for a majority draw. The second, which followed a year later, ended in a split-decision victory for him. But more significantly, two years later, Logan Paul and KSI forged a partnership and launched ‘Prime Hydration‘, which has now become a global brand.

So ‘JJ’ acknowledged how the fans have been pining for the clash. However, the fact remains that in sheer weight terms, Jake Paul has shifted base to the cruiserweight-heavyweight class. Whereas, in comparison, he still remains a bit lighter. Hence, there’s considerable disagreement on the issue between the two camps, it seems. “But I’m at a point where I’m just going to wait, you know, like I’m at a point where I don’t need to chase; I can just wait…wait out; eventually it’s going to have to come my way. Eventually he’s going to have to come to say what’s up!” KSI concluded.

It’s not that Jake Paul and KSI never came close to fighting. The Misfits Boxing founder returned to boxing nearly three years after the Logan Paul bout. He reached out to ‘The Problem Child’ with a fight offer at Wembley Stadium, where ‘100% of the purse will be on the line’. The message received a response from Jake Paul, but nothing materialized.

Last bid?

Two months ago, after the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight got rescheduled, speaking at his podcast, KSI slammed the Ohioan for fighting a 58-year-old former heavyweight champion. Nevertheless, he made his ‘final offer’.

He criticized how Paul had initially agreed to a fight at 180 pounds. But ‘The Problem Child’ subsequently switched over to the Nate Diaz bout. So KSI placed a ceiling at 185 pounds. He said, “May 2025, just so you have all the time in the world to be ready. And we can even do it in America. First of all, we agreed to fight at 180 pounds, and then you decided to run away and fight Nate Diaz instead. Then you came back, wanting to fight at 185 pounds, and then you decided, Let’s fight at 200 pounds. 185 pounds is my final offer. Take it or leave it.”

Jake Paul had remarkably bulked up in preparation for the Mike Tyson fight. Therefore, many fans could be apprehensive about whether he would be willing to scale down to 185 pounds. Nevertheless, the fight with KSI has yet to reach the expiry and still has many takers. If it gets in the making, it could as well be one of the blockbusters of 2025.

What do you take? Do you feel Jake Paul should finally assent to a match with KSI once the Tyson fight is over?