KSI vs Logan Paul: Battle of YouTube stars ends in draw – as it happened
We bring you every jab, hook and diss track, while attempting to put this new media monstrosity in context...
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Your support makes all the difference.In front of 18,000 fans at the Manchester Arena, YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul shared the spoils after six rounds of tense white-collar boxing.
While many may pour scorn on a matchup between two amateurs, more than 800,000 streamed the event, billed as the “biggest event in internet history”, at its peak.
At least a half a million more watched on illegal streams, despite the attempts of the organisers to quash them.
The match was the second bout for KSI, who defeated Joe Weller in front of a 7,000-strong sellout in London’s Copper Box Arena back in February.
Fans not able to make it to Manchester for the fight had to pay £7.50 ($10) for the privilege of watching a live stream of the action.
:: Chris Stokel-Walker (CSW) reporting live from the MEN Arena and Adam Hamdani (AH) following all the online reaction
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More than a quarter of a million pounds of bets on the outcome of the event had been taken by British bookmakers by Saturday afternoon, The Independent can exclusively reveal.
“We were blown away by the numbers we saw after KSI's last fight, but that pales in significance in truth, with interest from a betting perspective likely to hit £300,000 by close of play on Saturday night,” said Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati.
A minute and a half to go and the roof is lifting off Manchester Arena. (CSW)
Practically the whole arena rose to their feet after that one. I have no idea. Adam? (CSW)
What a fight. It's all over after six rounds of boxing, it was a close, close fight. I have no idea how to score it... genuinely think that could be a draw if I'm honest. A fight full of intrigue. (AH)
58-57 KSI
57-57 draw
57 draw
The fight ends as a majority draw. I KNEW IT! (AH)
"I want to do it again, hell yeah! Let's f***ing go!"
The first words from KSI after his draw. It looks like a rematch is absolutely certain to happen.
"The rematch is going to be f***ing crazy!" is what Logan Paul responded with before continuing his trash talk.
He then thanked KSI for helping him to 'take a step back' from his internet career and refocusing after a difficult year. (AH)
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