Boxing fans believe Dillon Danis will be an easier opponent for KSI than Tyron Woodley was for Jake Paul.
In his professional boxing career, Paul has faced YouTuber AnEsonGib, basketball player Nate Robinson and legendary MMA champions Ben Askren, Woodley and Anderson Silva. He knocked out all of them except Silva, whom he dropped in the eighth round of their clash in October.
Meanwhile, KSI has faced fellow YouTube star Joe Weller, before doing two bouts with Jake's older brother Logan, drawing one and winning the other by split decision. He then took almost three years out of the ring before returning in August with a 'two fights in one night' gimmick event where he knocked out rapper Swarmz and journeyman boxer Luis Pineda.
Woodley was a feared striker during his MMA career, knocking out the likes of Robbie Lawlor and beating renowned stand-up fighters Stephen Thompson and Darren Till during his reign as UFC welterweight champion. And Silva was one of the greatest strikers in the sport's history, as well as having defeated former boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr prior to facing Paul.
However, Askren was infamous for his terrible ability on the feet, winning all of his world title fights in Bellator and ONE FC with his Olympic-level wrestling. And fans believe that Danis is a small bit above Askren's level as a boxer, while being worse than Woodley or Silva.
"He's much better than people originally thought," one fan commented on a video of Danis sparring. "He ain't going to be world champion or nothing but he's much better than a Ben Askren." Another added: "He's a few levels below Woodley but he's leaps and bounds better than Askren."
Who do you think is a bigger challenge in the boxing ring; Dillon Danis or Ben Askren? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Interestingly, Askren has actually competed twice in the UFC since Danis' last fight in June of 2019, as well as his boxing match with Paul in April of last year. However, all three of those bouts ended in stoppage defeat, with Jorge Masvidal and Paul both knocking him out within a round and Demian Maia submitting him in the bout that originally signalled his retirement.
Both Askren and Danis had serious surgeries before agreeing to their boxing debuts against their respective YouTube rivals. The wrestling icon had his hip replaced, while Danis has undergone multiple surgeries on a serious knee injury that kept him out of the cage for over three years.
"He's JJ's Ben Askren fight," one fan wrote on Instagram. "But only that he is way better than Ben." The footage of Danis shows him with multiple sparring partners, showing off decent technique and landing a few big uppercuts. Mirror Fighting understands that Danis has taken in training at multiple gyms in New York during his preparation for fighting KSI.
