KSI says he’s returning to boxing with just one goal – to take Jake Paul out for good and then ‘abuse him for the rest of his life’

KSI could have easily left boxing on a high in 2019 after upsetting the odds to defeat bitter rival Logan Paul.

The 29-year-old British rapper and YouTuber has his hands in a variety of successful business ventures which ensure that, if he chose to, he would never have to work another day in his life.

Remarkably, though, in February 2018, he sought to challenge himself by stepping into the boxing ring for a white collar bout with friend-turned foe Joe Weller.

KSI stopped Weller in the third round of their contest and then issued a call-out to American social media stars Jake and Logan Paul.

It was older brother Logan who initially stepped up and accepted, as the pair agreed terms to meet six months later.

In their white collar first bout, KSI recovered from early adversity to battle back and earn a draw.

Then, a year on, they signed a deal to go pro for the rematch with promoter Eddie Hearn on DAZN.

KSI travelled to Los Angeles and won a thrilling fight on away soil to put the rivalry to bed for good.

Three years have passed since that defining victory and a lot has happened during this time span.

While KSI has put more focus into his other ventures in music and online entertainment, Logan's brother, Jake, has built a 5-0 pro boxing record, knocking out former UFC fighters Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley in significant PPV fights along the way.

"Jake Paul - that's the main goal, that's the only reason I came back," KSI tells marvelbet369.com ahead of his ring return.

"I would watch his fights against Askren and Woodley and it would just anger me, bro because everyone thinks Jake Paul is the guy, but he really isn't and I just want to expose him.

"I still to this day believe Logan Paul is better than Jake Paul and I think people need to put some respect on my name and the fact that I was able to beat Logan Paul with hardly any preparation.

"I was fat when I got into the camp for Logan Paul. I slimmed down, worked hard and I was able - with the doggedness, not even any technique, with the doggedness in me - to beat Logan Paul.

"So how about now? When I've got the technique, when I've got the balance, when I've got the ability to knock a man out clean.

"You'll see, August 27th you'll see a different KSI and I think it's gonna excite a lot of people for sure."

The Brit was initially due to take on America's Alex Wassabi on that date, only for the American to withdraw citing concussion with just three weeks to go.

KSI will now face British rapper Swarmz as a late replacement - not ideal for a return fight, but it will get him back in the ring nonetheless.

"After the Logan Paul win I wasn't happy," KSI replies when asked why he didn't sail off into the sunset on the back of this triumph.

"I wasn't happy with how I won that because I had to use my doggedness to beat Logan Paul and I didn't actually use any boxing skill or technique.

"It was just me scrapping mad, I hated it.

"So I had to take some time to really develop, work on my skill, change my coaches and make sure everything was on point and I felt 100 per cent with my boxing ability.

"And now I'm excited about my boxing because I'm starting to get it. I'm starting to learn everything I wanted to learn in the first place.

"I feel like I'm now in a much better place. We'll see what happens in the future, but the main goal is Jake Paul."

In the online world, defeat carries arguably stronger consequences than for the average boxer.

Should KSI vs Jake Paul come to fruition in 2023, the loser will be subjected to the greatest viral humiliation for some time.

This is not something the 29-year-old fears, though, and instead he revels in the prospect of being able to potentially dish it out to his rival.

"I know after the fight, once I lay him out, he's just gonna be hiding in a corner," KSI adds with a smile on his face, "And I'm gonna be just abusing him for the rest of his life."

Watch KSI vs Swarmz live on DAZN PPV August 27. KSI’s new single ‘Not Over Yet’ ft. Tom Grennan is out now.