Logan Paul hires Shannon Briggs to help ‘kill’ KSI as YouTubers’ rivalry gets nasty
YOUTUBE STAR Logan Paul has turned up the heat on rival KSI by hiring heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs to help 'kill' his rival in the ring.
The pair are facing off for the second time after the first fight finished as a draw in Manchester back in August last year.
When talking about the work that Paul has been putting in with Briggs, best friend Mike Majlak said: "Things are completely different this time around - the camp...it's like a death camp right now. There's absolutely no distractions, the entire team is ready to die for this victory.
"He's got one goal and that's to go in the ring and kill his opponent. There's no distractions, no bull****, no 'I've got to make up for Tokyo', or 'I've got to make up for YouTube'.
"I've never seen him as focused on one goal which is to walk in the ring and make sure there's absolutely nothing left for KSI after he's finished with him."
The pair's feud has grown even more in the 13 months since the first bout - with juvenile barbs like 'JJ(KSI) has no d***' and "Go and ask your mum" having been exchanged in the pre-fight press conference in Vegas on Saturday night.
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Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn was quick to step in and halt the embarrassing exchange.
According to Majlak, however, Paul has been taking the quality of his boxing more seriously than that of his trash talk ahead of November's rematch: "Logan doesn't plan on there being one punch he feels. He is going into that ring to eat - literally eat - KSI is a meal for him. He is not planning on being hit, he's not planning on being attacked...he's planning on going there and eating a meal."
When asked about the specifics of Paul's training with Briggs, Majlak continued: "It's 8000 calories of meat, and Shannon wants him literally eating the brains of animals. there's stuff we won't do that Shannon wants us to do. The guy is a monster.
"There are no distractions, there are no girls at the house, which is obviously a problem for me and Logan, but it's really a great thing. He's in bed by 10, no questions asked."
Unlike the first fight, this time around Paul and KSI will be boxing as fully licensed professionals - meaning no head guards will need to be worn.
Some have questioned whether KSI and Logan Paul undermine the sport and are bad for boxing - but Anthony Joshua disagrees.
Joshua, who is also represented by Matchroom, said of the fight: "I think it's sick. He (Hearn) could have promoted it from a point of view that's non-boxing, but getting their licenses, no head guards, rounds of boxing.
"What people have to realise is, you have to put all eyes on boxing for us all to thrive.
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"So KSI and Logan Paul have a bigger following than me and most of the heavyweights combined.
"If all those eyes are now going to watch me and watch my competitors and watch the sport of boxing, it's going to rise."
The rematch takes place on November 9 at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
