YouTubers and social media stars have gotten very involved in the boxing business over the last few years. AnEsonGib and Deji explain why.
Some people love it, and some loath it, but the fact remains that YouTubers and social media stars are flocking to the sport of boxing in a growing trend. There’s a lot of sports that they could take up, so why boxing? Popular YouTubers AnEsonGib and Deji offered up their perspectives to FanSided.
YouTubers and social media stars participated in amateur boxing shows as far back as 2018. Deji fought Jake Paul in 2018 in a losing effort, but he bloodied Paul’s nose and took him to round 5. That’s more than Nate Robinson, and Ben Askren can say.
AnEsonGib didn’t fair as well in his 2020 professional boxing debut against Paul. He was stopped in the first round but isn’t giving up on his boxing dreams. AnEsonGib, Deji, and many other YouTubers are fighting their Tik Tok counterparts in a June 12 boxing event titled “Social Gloves.”
The social media personalities will throw down in a night of amateur boxing at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. That venue is also hosting the June 6 fight card featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Logan Paul. Two weekends in a row, social media stars go for glory in the boxing ring in front of a vast audience.
AnEsonGib, Deji, his brother KSI, and the Paul brothers helped get things started with their early amateur exhibition bouts. Logan Paul and KSI took things to the next level when they fought professionally on DAZN. It was a legitimate boxing card with current WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney and former WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders on the ticket.
DAZN and Matchroom saw Logan Paul’s and KSI’s social media popularity as a bridge to bring in more fans. They followed that up with Jake Paul vs. AnEsonGib two months later. Their followers watched, and other promotions and broadcast companies paid attention.
Triller jumped on board with their streaming service, and so has Showtime. Social media stars are finding a way to market their legions of followers to boxing promoters and broadcasters. It’s a smart business move, but many boxing purists aren’t happy about it. They see this as a cheapening of boxing. They view it as disrespectful to the sport, but it’s not going away.
So back to the primary question, why are social media stars jumping into the ring? Is it about money and fame, or do they have a real passion for the sport? The answer is complicated, according to AnEsonGib.
AnEsonGib and Deji say they’re taking boxing seriously and explain why YouTubers and the boxing business can help each other
“And now other influencers, I fought when there was no money,” AnEsonGib told FanSided. “I had two fights, then fight for a check. Other influencers now, they see, they understand, they think it’s a cool experience. Don’t understand the trenches and the hard work. A lot of people said they were fighting for money. Cool, I got a nickname seven-figure-Gibber, but I’ve got a true passion for this.”
AnEsonGib got into boxing to lose weight and defend himself and found that he loves the sport.
Deji also sees money as the driving force for most influencers, but it’s a reciprocal relationship for the boxing industry from his point of view.
“I would say it’s because there’s money to be made, because each, they have a following,” Deji told FanSided. “So obviously, Jake Paul having like, such a social following, and then turn habits into like a fight-following, and then just combining those two it’s just money to be made. That’s why. So ultimately, it’s just more eyes on the sport of boxing.”
It’s primarily a good business move for both social media stars and the boxing business. Viewing numbers and pay-per-view buys don’t lie. People are paying to watch their favorite YouTubers fight, regardless if it’s part of a major station or streaming service.
If there’s money to be made for all, then why do so many in boxing hate the trend of social media stars infused in genuine boxing cards?
The simple answer is that it represents change, and not everyone likes change. Once upon a time, I was opposed to influencers’ inclusion in mainstream boxing cards. I thought it was a slight to the fighters that got there the hard way by battling for years.
Then I saw things differently. If more people are watching a boxing show because a Paul brother is on it and see some talented, unknown fighters, how can that be bad? There’s a way for both parties to win in this partnership.
YouTubers like AnEsonGib and Deji are training hard and are willing to fight. Who’s to tell them that they don’t have a right to do that? Both said that they dream of fighting as professionals.
“I would love to have a pro license, go Pro,” said Deji. “I hope my next fight is a pro fight, honestly.”
“Of course, of course, of course, that’s always the goal,” said AnEsonGib. “I just want as many fights as possible. That’s why I want I want to come in and destroy all these YouTubers. That is the goal. That is the aim. To come in and fight. More pro fights. More exhibition-wise. I just want to get more fights, become a better fighter, and destroy every opponent in my way.”
AnEsonGib fights Tayler Holder, and Deji fights Vinne Hacker as part of the June 12 Social Gloves event. They have high aspirations, but they made it as YouTubers. Maybe they can also make it as boxers. You never know unless you try.
As for social media stars in boxing, don’t expect to see their participation in boxing dwindle. This might just be the beginning of the social/boxing relationship.
“They try to stop us, but we have put our foot in the door,” said AnEsonGib. “Yeah, as long as you take it serious, if you’re training hard, and you’ll be able to promote a fight, why not let it happen? Let it happen. So I think we put our foot in through the door, and we’re letting people know they’re serious.”
Watch AnEsonGib and Deji in their respective boxing matches as part of Social Gloves on June 12. You can order the card at socialgloves.livexlive.com or get live tickets at ticketmaster.com.