Paul vs KSI hits roadblock as American sets out condition for UK fight

Jake Paul vs KSI has run into a roadblock if the fight is to be staged in the United Kingdom. Paul insists that he will only fight across the pond if the contest is regulated by Britain’s leading professional boxing sanctioning body, the British Boxing Board of Control. 

This would mean that the fight is unlikely to be hosted by KSI’s promotional outfit, Misfits Boxing, who are sanctioned under semi-pro organisation, the Professional Boxing Association (PBA). It is also unclear whether KSI would meet the requirements to be granted a BBBofC license due to his lack of amateur experience. 

The body recommends that fighters have competed in multiple sanctioned amateur events (particularly those under IBA regulated bodies) which KSI’s mixture of semi-pro and white-collar fights does not fulfil. Under the ‘applying to be a boxer’ section, the BBBofC website states: “The Board expects that all applicants have had experience in amateur boxing. Amateur records are checked and anybody contemplating a professional career who has not already boxed is advised to contact an amateur club in their area.

“For anyone striving to get to the top of the professional sport it is almost impossible without first having had a good amateur career. Former British, Commonwealth and former K.1 Champion Matt Skelton is the exception rather than the rule.