Fight Garden is the leading news source in the recent crossover boxing phenomenon that took the sport by storm starting with Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor Mcgregor billed as “the money fight” The bout was scheduled for twelve rounds and recorded the second highest pay-per-view buy rate in history, behind Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Conor took the undefeated Mayweather into the 10th round where Mcgregor was TKO’d. This led to a domino effect that took the world by storm and eventually inspired influencers to try out their luck in the ring. British YouTuber KSI and Joe Weller put on a live event and then two sold out the Copper Box Arena on February 3rd, 2018 with the fight being viewed over 23 million times and counting. Logan Paul and his younger brother Jake were then called out by KSI after he beat Joe this eventually culminated in Logan Paul accepting a fight against KSI and Jake Paul accepting a fight against KSI’s little brother Deji. KSI & Logan, fought to a draw after six rounds in 2018 in Manchester, selling 1.3 million pay-per-views, which was considered as the biggest amateur fight in the history of boxing. Since then Jake has gone on to be a very successful promoter fighting MMA legends such as Anderson “Spider” Silva and Nate Diaz, defeating both of them in a dominating fashion. KSI also took on challenges as Logan pursued a career in the WWE.
Both Jake Paul and KSI were handed their first loss by Tommy Fury, the younger half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The road to crossover boxing was not given its legitimacy until October 28th, 2023 when MMA striking legend Francis Ngannou and heavyweight champion Tyson Fury fought in a Professional boxing match billed as “The Battle Of The Baddest”. Tyson Fury was a -1400 favorite coming into the fight. Ngannou was not even given a chance outside the first round as many claimed. The bout took place and Ngannou shocked the world in his professional boxing debut, he knocked down Tyson Fury for the 9th time in his 34-fight career and took the fight the distance going a full 10 rounds. Fury ended up taking the win in a controversial split-decision win for the first time in the elder Fury’s career and Ngannou made his place In the top 10 heavyweight rankings as a 0-1 professional. Crossover boxing has come a long way and millions are entertained by it, but no one can deny that eyes are not on the sport, with KSI and Mams Taylor’s Misfits Boxing promotion signing a 5-year deal with DAZN to broadcast fights and hold PPV events it seems like the sport is here to stay for now.