'Boxing billionaire' Joe Fournier will take on YouTube star KSI when the pair clash in the ring in May.
Fournier will look to break into a new market and attract a new audience as he makes his YouTube boxing debut in the Misfits Boxing main event. The showdown will take place on May 13 at the OVO Wembley Arena, and will see KSI step in with a man who has pedigree as a professional fighter holding a record of 9-0.
Forunier has won each of his fights outside of his lucrative exhibition meeting with long-term friend David Haye in September 2021. Prior to his exhibition, Fournier had returned for the first time in five years defeating musician Reykon on KSI's rival Jake Paul's undercard earlier in 2021.
The British star made his boxing debut in 2015 stopping Jorge Burgos having decided to leap into the boxing ring to prove a point to his family. Fournier picked up a series of wins in that year and the following which saw him ranked by the WBA as high as 11th in the light-heavyweight division, which was the highest of any British fighter at the time.
Nearly all of Fournier's contests were stopped before the bell with his powerful style seeing him make a remarkable rise, but this wasn't the rags to riches story which many people were focused on. Fournier was born into a wealthy family, but was forced to move to Hounslow after his parents divorced, and went through a significantly different upbringing than originally planned.
He was surprisingly good on the basketball court which prompted his love for fitness but after an injury finished his career, Fournier decided to become involved in other personal fitness regimes including personal training. He opened up his first business giving workouts to a series of high-profile clients which reportedly included Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The British star's business continued to grow and he even wrote his own book in 2008 which earned him an upfront fee of £30,000 as he rose to prominence in the world of fitness. He sold his business for an undisclosed amount in 2012, before opening his own portfolio of nightclubs with his first known as 'Whisky Mist'.
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He then began adding more plush locations to his series of clubs including a number of exclusive Bonbonniere nightspots which remain part of his collection to this day. He expanded his business globally including to the Greek island of Mykonos and several other locations, with bars and restaurants also acquired as his wealth grew and grew.
Having entertained a whole star-studded list of celebrities, his portfolio continues to generate huge wealth with estimates suggesting he brings in around £30million a year from his businesses. Fournier's love for boxing grew from his way of protecting his mental health, with his forays in the squared circle aided by friend Haye who he later fought.
The highlight of his career saw him crowned WBA international champion and he is yet to be outclassed during his career apart from against his long-term ally. A win against influencer KSI will put his name on the map once again, and will potentially derail his counterpart's career with KSI on a trajectory to face bitter rival Jake Paul.
