KSI’s Manager Refutes Amir Khan’s “Ghosted” Claims; Reveals Fight Still in the Works
The world of influencer boxing is no stranger to drama and unexpected twists. Recently, KSI hinted at retirement following his defeat to British boxer Tommy Fury. During his appearance on the Impaulsive podcast, he said, “Right now, I feel like I’ve retired. It’s weird. I haven’t trained since the fight. I’ve kind of just enjoyed my life.” However, the competitive fire within him hasn’t been extinguished, especially with ongoing comparisons to his rival Jake Paul, who continues to rise in the boxing world by defeating notable MMA fighters.
KSI’s upcoming bout on August 31st sees him taking on Slim Albaher and former MMA fighter Anthony Taylor in a unique 1 vs. 2 “tag-team” boxing match. But these opponents, while interesting, aren’t the high-profile names that could significantly elevate KSI’s boxing legacy. What if KSI could challenge and defeat a decorated, well-known boxer? Enter Amir Khan.
Reports have surfaced that KSI’s team was negotiating with former unified light-welterweight champion Amir Khan for a potential fight. Lured by the lucrative prospects of influencer boxing, Khan was contemplating a comeback. However, Khan recently stated that the negotiations had hit a deadlock, leading to a public spat over who ghosted whom.
Who Did the Ghosting – KSI or Amir Khan?
At the Social Knockout 3 event in Dubai, Amir Khan addressed the potential fight with KSI. He called the bout a “big mismatch” and claimed, “It’s funny because when they announced that they want the fight, they thought I was gonna stay quiet. I said, ‘No problem, I will take the fight,’ and then his team just went quiet. Sometimes it is good to give these guys a good little beating because they talk more than they can chew.”
KSI’s manager, Mams Taylor, was quick to respond, refuting Khan’s claims on social media. Taylor insisted that it was Khan’s team who went silent.
“We offered him the fight. He ghosted. (Hopefully, I don’t have to show receipts and get called unprofessional because I do have receipts). Then his team got back in touch and we are literally working on the fight for later in the year. Why do people have to make shit up? If I was Nakisa, I would call this off because I’m offended,”
Taylor wrote on X, taking a jab at MVP’s co-promoter Nakisa Bidarian, who had blamed Taylor for failed Jake Paul-KSI fight negotiations.
Khan’s Other Aspirations
Apart from the potential KSI bout, Amir Khan has also been eyeing a showdown with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia. Khan told The Sun earlier this year,
“I think Turki Alalshikh can make that fight happen between me and Manny Pacquiao. Yeah, that’s a fight that would definitely lift me up, for sure.”
For KSI, defeating a former world champion like Khan could significantly boost his credibility and possibly lure Jake Paul into finally agreeing to their much-anticipated grudge match. On the other hand, Khan might see this as a lucrative opportunity to step back into the ring and prove his dominance over an influencer boxer.
“Right now, I feel like I’ve retired. It’s weird. I haven’t trained since the fight. I’ve kind of just enjoyed my life,” KSI had said during his appearance on the Impaulsive podcast.
Jake Paul’s Take: Keep it Behind Closed Doors
Jake Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian recently revealed in an interview with Ariel Helwani that the public positioning by KSI’s manager during fight negotiations was off-putting. Bidarian emphasized the importance of keeping backdoor negotiations private. “When his representation is constantly taking a public position on Jake Paul, on MVP, on myself, it’s just not who I wanna do business with. It’s not who Jake wants to do business with. Jake Paul-KSI is a great fight. I think it’s an exciting fight. But it’s gonna be on terms that make sense in the background between ourselves, DAZN, and Wasserman,” Bidarian said.
A Rivalry Years in the Making
It’s been over five years since KSI and Jake Paul first began their social media feud. Initially sparked by Jake’s desire to avenge his brother Logan Paul’s loss to KSI in 2019, the rivalry has only intensified over time. While KSI and Logan Paul have since become business partners and friends, the animosity between KSI and Jake Paul remains at its peak.
As negotiations continue and the boxing world watches with bated breath, the outcome of these discussions could significantly impact the landscape of influencer boxing. Whether it’s KSI vs. Amir Khan or the long-awaited KSI vs. Jake Paul showdown, the stakes have never been higher.
