KSI could eventually be forced to accept “disrespectful” and “unfair” terms to fight Jake Paul.
The pair of YouTube sensations turned boxers have had a rivalry going on for over half a decade, leading to calls for a bitter contest.
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But the latest hurdle in the talks appears to be the weight difference between the two feuding couples.
KSI has fought at a lightweight weight of 175 pounds, while Paul’s last two fights were at the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds.
Both lost to Tommy Fury and arrived at around 183 pounds.
Paul has since gained weight and claims his body is naturally too big to return to his 185 lbs catchweight.
While KSI’s team argues that the British superstar has already stepped out of his comfort zone by moving up to 185 pounds.
However, his boxing trainer Alexis Demetriades insisted he would be willing to compromise to face Paul.
Demetriades told SunSport: “I can be honest with you, we have asked for this fight many times.
“We were offered 175, 180, no problem, let’s do it. (Jake) didn’t want to do it.
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“Remember, JJ fought at 170, he went up to 175, Tommy’s 182, we’ll go up to 185. How much more weight do you want JJ to go up?
“So let’s meet in the middle, Jake fought at 183, we’ll go up to 185. So we’ll go beyond the level he fought Tommy Fury at, which is outrageous.
Meet Delicious Orie, Anthony Joshua’s sparring partner and boxing gold medal contender at Paris 2024“That’s 15-20 pounds more than JJ’s fight. So we’re going to cut that much weight and make weight as well. And Jake still doesn’t want to do that.
“What do you want JJ to do? Put dumbbells in his pockets when he weighs himself? Honestly, I don’t know what else to offer.”
Paul, 27, has won three more times since losing to Fury, 25, and will return on July 20.
He did so against former UFC star turned bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry, 32, after his bout against 58-year-old Mike Tyson was postponed.
Meanwhile, KSI, 31, has not fought since his first loss via controversial decision to Fury last October.
He will return to action on August 31 in Dublin in a thrilling two-on-one handicap contest against Anthony Taylor, 34, and Slim Albahr, 29.
But the biggest blockbuster remains between KSI and Paul – which Demetriades has admitted in the past could be valuable £100 million,
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And despite believing his opponent will have to fight far beyond his natural weight class – he is willing to make the sacrifice.
Demetriades said: “This is one element where there is an unfair security advantage.
“Weight divisions happen for a reason, right? So at what point do we stop?
“I said to JJ, we want to take this guy, okay let’s go up to 185. He fought at 183, we’ll go up to 185 which is crazy because JJ isn’t naturally that heavy.
“He’s not a natural 185-meter jumper, as soon as he comes into camp, he’s down. But for that fight, how big it is and the magnitude of it.
“And, stylistically, I think we have this guy’s number. That’s what this fight is all about.
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“So we’ll leave the weight and hydration clause aside, we’ll figure that out.
“We’ll meet in the middle so everybody is comfortable, the winner takes all, what’s the problem?”
