Viddal Riley urges KSI to retire from boxing

Viddal Riley has urged his former mentee KSI to quit boxing if he is no longer willing to commit the required level of time and effort into the sport.

The CEO and face of Misfits Boxing, YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI has now pulled out of two fights in the last eight months.

Scheduled to face Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a two-v-one Misfits bout in August 2024, KSI pulled out due to a hand injury, and ahead of a meeting with Dillon Danis on 29th March 2025, the social media personality ruled himself out due to illness.

These two call-offs have prompted doubts regarding KSI's commitment to boxing, with his former trainer Riley telling boxing commentator Wade Plemons' YouTube channel The W.A.D.E Concept:

I've always said outwardly he should have retired ages ago. I've said that because I care for him as a friend.

Riley, a professional boxer himself, previously trained KSI for his boxing debut against fellow YouTuber Joe Weller and two money-spinning fights against Logan Paul.

27-year-old Riley believes KSI, who continues to make YouTube content as well create music, should not force himself into continuing fighting if it is proving too much for him.

"When something worth it comes up, then cool, have a boxing match, but he shouldn't feel the need to fight multiple times a year," Riley told Plemons.

Hailing from Hackney, Riley is preparing for the biggest fight of his professional boxing career as he takes on domestic rival Cheavon Clarke for the British cruiserweight belt on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 26th April.

Represented by BOXXER, Riley is undefeated in the professional ranks and currently holds the English cruiserweight title, acquired following a unanimous decision victory over Nathan Quarless at York Hall in September 2023.

James Wilson

• KSI
• Misfits Boxing
• BOXXER
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