KSI's fans chanted "f***" Jake Paul just minutes before the YouTube star walked to the ring for his recent win.
The Brit made his latest ring return last night at Wembley Arena against late replacement FaZe Temperrr, who he knocked out within the first round. KSI - real name JJ Olatunji - fought in front of a sell-out crowd who roared him on, seeing him pick up his fourth victory as a professional.
Just moments before the fight, as KSI limbered up for his ring walk, fans began to chant "f*** Jake Paul", with the British fans clearly offering their support to their compatriot against his long-term American rival. This was a regular feature at fight-week media events and was also started by fans when Paul's older brother, Logan, was present when the pair were advertising energy drink Prime on an open-top bus tour.
KSI was clearly inspired by the large, vocal crowd, with the star rallying immediately in the opening stanza to drop his opponent with a booming left-right combination. The referee moved in to stop the contest, with KSI clearly delighted with his latest win.
It is expected that 'The Nightmare' will make one more step into the ring before pursuing a clash against bitter foe Paul, who is set to return this spring. After the stoppage, KSI elected to call out Paul but first named Joe Fournier and Tyron Woodley as interim opponents before the mega fight.
"I said I wanted a KO, I said I wanted in round one and here we are baby," KSI said. "I want you guys to understand the levels. Look at what Swarmz did to Ryan Taylor. "Look at what [Luis Alcaraz] Pineda did to that other guy, who I don't know his name. And look at what I did to Temperrr.
Who wins when the pair do fight - KSI or Jake Paul? Let us know in the comments section below.
"I'm on a different level and we're going again! I'm hungry, ladies and gentlemen. Joe Fournier, I want a piece of that!. (Tyron) Woodley, I want a piece of that. Slim (Albaher), whoever it is - I'll destroy. I need to be tested. I more tests before I reach the final level... Jake m*********ing Paul."
Paul was quick to respond to KSI's win with a video clip posted by his brother showing the YouTube star joking he was "shivering" with fear. He then produced a series of posts regarding the win, with the first reading: "I love it when KSI wins because it gives him more confidence for him to actually get in the ring with me."
He later added a stipulation for their potential fight, writing: "When I fight in the UK it will only be if it’s sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control - that’s the governing body of pro-boxing in the UK."
