Fight shows formidable reach of youth culture
HARDLY anyone over the age of 30 was watching, but millions millio tuned in to the biggest amateur bo boxing match of all time at Manchester Ar Arena last night. In a sign of how cult cultural power is shifting online, the battle battl was shown on YouTube rather than a major television channel. Young people p holed themselves up in their b bedrooms to watch the drama unfold unfo on their phones and laptops, as televisions gathered dust and parents pa went about their business, ob oblivious. In what was “the bigge biggest internet event in history”, You Youtube stars Logan Paul and K KSI – who have 37million su subscribers between them but bu no professional boxing experience – sparred in the live-streamed Y YouTube event. The sho showdown is believed t to have grossed at least £115million thanks tha to a £7.50 pa pay-perview charge. Some fans splurged hundreds on a ticket t to see KSI (rea (real name Olajide Olatunji), a 25-year-o 25-year-old Londoner who has rocketed to social media fame recording himself playing video games, tussl tussle with the 23-year-old American “goo “goof comedy” vlogger Paul.
In the event, the fight, to the immediate disappointment of some fa fans online, was declared a majority draw, after both men failed to land heavy blows over six rounds.
But it was good news for boo bookmakers with Coral saying it had prov proved one of the most popular boxing boxi bouts of the year for gamblers, following months of build-up, during which the pair traded insults like “your head is the size of a watermelon” and rapped insults at each other in “diss tracks”.
YouTube declined to comment on how much money it will generate from streaming the event. Paul and KSI, who already have a combined net worth of more than £15million, will take an undisclosed cut, with a rematch in the US already slated for 2019.
Earlier a string of lesser-known social media stars took to the ring, and as excitement grew for the main event, KSI’s younger brother, Deji, was set to face off against Paul’s sibling Jake.
The historic fight reflects a dramatic shift in viewing habits, as young people move away from broadcast television and towards internet streaming. The time 16-24-year-olds spend watching television each week plummeted by 12 per cent in 2017, while 16-34-yearolds now spend just under an hour a day watching YouTube, according to Ofcom. Nine out of 10 aged between 12 and 15 now use the platform.
But critics have said the “grudge match” has set a poor example to youngsters. Yesterday afternoon, as a blacked-out car approached the arena, teenagers were seen encouraging each other to shout “she’s a hoe” if Chloe Bennet, Paul’s girlfriend, stepped out.
At a press conference in July, KSI made lewd wd comments about Ms Bennet, and also called Paul’s father “disgusting”. “Some of the abuse and gutter-level vel chat in the build up was disgraceful,” graceful,” said James Mildred from the charity Christian n Action Research and Education. cation. “It’s no exaggeration on to say this event could well ell incite violence and poor behaviour haviour as those watching copy what they see.”
Questions ons have also been raised about YouTube’s ouTube’s decision to feature Paul. Earlier rlier this year, half a million signed a petition to get him banned after he posted a video featuring a dead body, ody, while exploring Aokigahara ara forest, a notorious suicide cide spot in Japan. YouTube temporarily rily suspended Paul’s sponsored ads, s, and the star later posted sted a video apology and pledged $1million n (£750,000) to suicide e prevention charities.
“The companies ompanies making money out of this is event are showing wing a complete e lack of integrity ity and should cut all connections ons with him,” m,” said Chris McGovern, chairman n of Campaign for Real Education.
KSI has s also been criticised in the past ast for misogynistic comments. ts. The platform has come under der equal scrutiny for its failure e to tighten its flimsy age-restriction iction measures for the 18+ event, despite the pair’s legion ion of young fans. Additional nal reporting by
Ellie Zolfagharifard fagharifard and Charles Hymas