Boxing

KSI Reveals Four UFC Legends Declined Boxing Fight Before Dillon Danis Deal

KSI tried to fight four former UFC legends in his next boxing bout before settling on Dillon Danis as his opponent.

Grant Young

IMAGO / PA Images

On February 4, it was announced that influencer boxing icon KSI would be returning from his lengthy absence from the ring to face former MMA fighter Dillon Danis on March 29 in Manchester, in what will be a 185-pound bout under KSI's Misfits Boxing banner.

Given that KSI hasn't boxed since losing a decision to Tommy Fury in October 2023 (which is a fight many believed he had won), people were curious about who he'd eventually choose to face off against.

Danis is an interesting decision; if only because he's not known for his boxing ability, and therefore KSI should be a solid favorite heading into this fight.

KSI made a February 11 appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, and at one point during their interview, he revealed the names of four prominent MMA fighters who turned down boxing bouts with him before he settled on Danis.

"My team reached out to Nate Diaz... I fully wanted to knock him out. And he said no," KSI said. "So we went to [Jorge] Masvidal, he couldn't do it because of his UFC contract. Went to Donald Cerrone, he said no. Went to Tony Ferguson, he said no. So, you know, we're scrambling."

The fact that KSI offered fights to four of these former UFC legends (who are all undoubtedly past their primes at this point) is fascinating. It's also fascinating that all four declined.

Perhaps a big win against Danis will convince one of these four names to face off against KSI in his next bout.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Boxing, Women’s Basketball, and the New York Mets for On SI. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco, where he also played Division 1 baseball for five years, and he thinks it’s time that Canelo Álvarez fights David Benavidez.