Former One Direction star Liam Payne has called out YouTube star KSI and musician Justin Bieber for fights in the boxing ring.
Payne shot to fame when he first appeared on singing competition X-Factor in 2008 before joining with One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. The band later separated in 2015 with the musicians going on to enjoy success as solo artists.
Payne has since revealed he is a big fan of boxing and was ringside for Josh Taylor's controversial victory over Jack Catterall. He is now keen to compete inside the ring although does not believe fellow musician Bieber would not entertain a fight offer. "If there is a chance for me to jump in the ring and feel gladiatorial in the 21st century I am in," Payne told Logan Paul during an episode of Impaulsive.
"I love boxing as a sport and I think it's fantastic. I would just enjoy the challenge and the road up to it would be great. Yeah I would fight KSI he would have to come down a few weight slots. But yeah I'd fight him. I like him too much though. I will fight whoever you want. But I don't think Justin Bieber would do it. For the same reason I wouldn't fight Trippie Redd, I don't think he is on my level. But if he did want to do it I would."
Bieber has recently been training in the sport for a role in a film about boxing promoter Dmitry Salita, and has been tipped to be the next Jake Paul in the ring. The Canadian musician has been tipped by screenwriter Gregory Howard to make the switch after showing skills in sparring.
"From what I've seen of Justin Bieber, he has the talent and the boxing skill to crossover from an entertainment background into boxing - he has the ability to become the next Jake Paul," Howard told Vegas Insider. "I saw Justin spar and he's got skills. I'm not telling you he's ready to be the middleweight champion of the world but he’s not bad.
Would you like to see Liam Payne step in the boxing ring? Let us know in the comments section below
"The hard thing in a boxing movie is to move like a boxer. Justin Bieber apparently was taking some lessons, he was really quite credible. There's a little clip of him on YouTube or something. He's very credible as a boxer." Bieber has previously spoken about a combat sports exploit having called out actor Tom Cruise to a UFC bout, which the promotion's president Dana White even considered staging.
Meanwhile YouTube star KSI - real name JJ Olatunji - has already fought three times in the boxing ring. Olatunji has fought YouTubers Joe Weller and Paul in white-collar bouts before securing rematch victory against the American YouTuber in his most recent outing. Olatunji will return to the ring this summer on August 27 against an as-yet-unnamed opponent.
