SUPERIORITY COMPLEX
Though the latest Misfits card highlighted the shortcomings of the format, it doesn’t help when a ‘real’ fight, merely hours later, ends just as farcically, writes George Gigney
BROADCASTS
EVER since influencer boxing – Youtubers and internet personalities cosplaying as boxers to earn more money – lurched into the mainstream, we boxing fans have been eager to highlight how it is not the real thing. At every opportunity we explain how it is a sideshow, something that should not be considered legitimate boxing. But then we are presented with evidence like the past weekend, where there are so many parallels between the two that it becomes increasingly hard to differentiate them with a straight face.
Firstly, there were two main events on competing broadcasters which both ended in farcical fashion. On DAZN PPV, Youtube sensation KSI was boxing Joe Fournier, a self-proclaimed ‘billionaire’ who some might remember as being linked with David Haye a few years ago. He was also served an 18-month ban from boxing in 2018 after testing positive for a banned substance.
The contest ended in the second round when Fournier was counted out after being dropped by an elbow to the mush. The DAZN commentary, led by the increasingly insufferable Todd Grisham, went bonkers, praising KSI. Then the replays came. It became instantly clear that KSI had landed a beautiful Muay Thai shot, but one that is very much illegal in boxing. Still, that didn’t stop the party. When queried about the elbow, KSI – as graciously as ever – insisted it was a legal right hook that finished the job. Your adrenaline would have to be in the stratosphere for you to have not felt someone’s chin colliding with full force into your elbow. And then there are the aforementioned replays, which helpfully displayed the finish in slow motion. Those are truly astounding levels of denial from KSI (which, apparently, stands for ‘Knowledge, Strength and Integrity’).
In his defence, it doesn’t look as though the elbow was intentional. But that doesn’t make it any less illegal. And when it came, even the referee missed it, so the commentary team can’t be blamed too much for their gushing over KSI.
Then, over on Showtime, ‘Rolly’ Romero earned a ridiculous stoppage victory over Ismael Barroso in their super-lightweight main event. With both men having met the canvas earlier in the fight, the pair were trading blows in a neutral corner during the ninth, Barroso landing a clean right hand while Romero