YOUTUBE boxing star Deji went from self-professed “failure” to fighting boxing legend Floyd Mayweather as an all-new man.
The social media sensation rose to fame as the younger brother of KSI, one of the most recognised faces on the internet.
Floyd Mayweather and Deji ahead of their exhibition
YouTube stars KSI and Deji
Deji celebrating his first boxing win against Fousey earlier this year
But Deji – full name Oladeji Daniel Olatunji – carved out a career for himself with over 16.2MILLION followers and subscribers.
When KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – signed to fight American Logan Paul, Deji featured on the undercard.
It was a family affair as he faced Paul’s brother Jake in the co-headliner, losing by stoppage.
As the world of influencer boxing grew, it was inevitable that Deji would be back in the ring again.
And that came in June 2021, during a YouTube vs TikTok event which saw him fight Vinnie Hacker, 20.
But after ballooning up to over 14 stone for the fight, Deji was stopped in two rounds, quitting on his feet.
Afterwards, he tweeted: “I’m sorry, I am a failure.”
It set up a comeback fight greater than ever, as Deji, 25, claimed he would walk away from boxing if he lost to Alex Wassabi, 32, in March.
The former gamer switched gyms, training alongside coach Daley Perales and looked a new man.
Unfortunately, it was a similar story as Wassabi ran out the victor following a close points decision.
Deji’s first sign of resilience came in his emotional post-fight speech, in which he told his adoring fans he would not quit.
He said: “If you guys want me to fight again, I’ll show you what I can do.”
Deji added more muscle to his team with the addition of esteemed strength and conditioning coach Leon Wills.
And together with boxing trainer Perales, they helped shape a new and improved Deji, who returned against online rival Fousey, 32.
Deji lost to Jake Paul in their 2018 fight
Deji was beaten by TikToker Vinnie Hacker
Alex Wassabi celebrates his win over Deji
Deji’s improvement in his skills, fitness and mindset was there for all to see as he dropped and stopped Fousey in three rounds.
He said after winning his first fight: “I have the best team ever. I have Daley, the best boxing coach ever, ever.
“I have Leon, the best PT in the game and I have everyone out there showing their love. And that brought me out.”
The YouTube scene stood up and took notice of Deji, but little did he know the win would capture the attention of boxing greatness.
Global Titans, a newly-found Dubai-based promotion, had just signed Floyd Mayweather, 45, to an exclusive deal.
American YouTuber Fousey was beaten by Deji
Fousey was dropped and stopped
And they were seeking out competition for his first exhibition bout under their banner.
Manager Liam Chivers, who works with a host of influencer talent, was approached to put forward some names.
At the top of his list were Deji and AnEsonGib, who was a week away from his eventual win over Austin McBroom.
Due to Gib’s upcoming bout, it was Deji who was put forward and later approved by Mayweather’s team.
A deal was wrapped up within two weeks, setting the scene for one of boxing’s most extraordinary bouts.
The pair will share the ring over eight rounds in Dubai on Sunday night.
And in a career in which has seen Deji always put so much on the line, this is his first fight where he truly has nothing to lose.
Deji ahead of his fight with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather
Coach Leon Wills with Deji
Boxing trainer Daley Perales with Deji
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the various types of boxing gloves available?
There are three main types for boxing gloves: mitts or fingerless mitts. Mitten gloves are padded around the knuckles. Fingerless mitts don’t have any padding around your knuckles but still cover your fingers. Full-finger gloves have padding all over the hand.
The mitten is used to punch or hit with the fist. Fingerless mitt gloves, also known as fingerless mitts, are used to punch or strike with the index finger’s knuckle. Boxing gloves with full-fingering are designed for punching with your entire fist.
How can I improve my punching technique?
The most important part of boxing is the punching technique. You must develop good punch technique if you want to become a better boxer. These are some tips that will help you improve your punching technique.
- Keep your head up. Keep your head up when you’re throwing punches.
- Punch from the shoulder. If you are going to throw a punch, aim for the shoulder and not your chin.
- Concentrate on your feet. Avoid moving your feet while you punch.
- Make quick, short punches. Throwing longer punches will tire you out more quickly.
- Don’t forget about defense! Always keep your distance from any punches coming in.
- Use your elbows. Your elbows can be used to protect yourself.
- Use your legs. Properly using your legs will help you avoid being knocked down.
- Keep practicing every day. Even if you feel exhausted after training, don’t give up. It takes practice to become proficient at anything.
- Have fun Enjoy what your doing.
- Remember to breathe. Proper breathing will improve your strength and energy.
- Relax. Don’t worry so much about making mistakes. Be focused on learning new techniques.
- Be patient. Boxing is hard. It takes time for you to get better at boxing.
- Never stop learning. There will always be improvement.
- Listen to music. Music can help you relax and concentrate during training.
- See videos of professional boxers. It can inspire you to do better.
- Read books. Reading can help you understand boxing techniques better.
- Pause. Sometimes, you need to take a break. Play basketball or soccer outside.
- Look for a coach. A coach who is an expert in boxing can help you get better faster.
- Push-ups are a great exercise. Push-ups can be a great way to increase strength and endurance.
How long does it take for boxers to train each day?
Boxing trainers often train at least 4 hours per day. They also learn new moves and practice punches. Boxers often spar up to 10 times a week.
What are the 7 punches of boxing?
The seven punches used in boxing include the jab (cross), hook, uppercut; straight right; left hook; and body shot. These punches can be used to strike the opponent’s head and body.
What are some of the benefits of learning how to box
If you want to learn how to box, then you should consider the following reasons:
- It builds confidence. Learn to box can give you courage to confront bullies or any other person who might bully you.
- It improves your health. Boxing is good for building muscle mass. Muscle mass is what makes you stronger.
- It teaches you self defense skills. You learn how fight and how to protect yourself.
- It builds mental toughness. You need mental toughness to face difficult situations.
- It can give you a feeling of accomplishment. Once you have learned a technique you’ll feel like you are a real boxer.
- It’s fun! Nothing is better than being punched in the stomach.
- It’s cheap. All you need are a pair of punching bags and boxing gloves.
- It doesn’t require much space
How long does it take to become a professional boxer?
Professional boxing requires years of dedication and hard work. A minimum of 10 hours per week is required to train to become a professional ring fighter.
Statistics
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
External Links
boxandflow.com
en.wikipedia.org
How To
Here are the Basic Skills of Boxing
How to box effectively
Boxing is a popular sport. It involves two people who attempt to knock each other out of their heads. There are different rules for boxing, and they vary from one country to the next. In general, there are three types of boxing; Amateur, Professional and Olympic boxing.
Amateur boxing usually takes place at school, college and university. This type of boxing includes sparring sessions with padded gloves and without any protection. Usually amateur boxing competitions consist of three rounds of five minutes each. There are many styles of amateur boxing such as Kickboxing or Muay Thai, Taekwondo and Karate, Judo and Wrestling, among others.
Most professional boxing takes place in gyms, clubs, and stadiums. They wear protective equipment such as mouthpiece, nose guard, shin guards, elbow pads, knee pads, waist belt and groin protector. Professional boxing competitions include six rounds of four minutes each. There are many styles of professional boxing: Boxing, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Kickboxing and Muay Thai.
Olympic boxing is done at the Olympics. International standards require that boxers use special protective gear. The competition lasts eight rounds of three minutes each. Only two types of Olympic boxing are available: Light Flyweight or Heavyweight.
The basic skills of boxing are:
- Techniques for punching
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Movement of the body
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spare parts
Punching Techniques
There are seven types. Each punch has its own technique. Some punches require more force than others. A strong uppercut for example requires a lot of force. However, a straight punch is much more powerful and faster than other punches.
There are many combinations that can be used to punch. These are combinations which combine several punches in order to achieve a specific goal. A combination can contain multiple parts. For example, a left hook followed by a right cross will cause damage to the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
Boxers use their bodies to defend themselves against attack. He does this using his legs and arms, elbows as well as hands, knees and feet.
Legs
A boxer must use his legs to defend against kicks. After receiving a kick, he will raise his leg and move away from the attacker. To avoid being kicked on the sides, he bends at his knees when the attacker strikes from the front. If the attack is from the side, he will bend his knees to avoid being kicked on the side.
Elbows
Because they cause great pain, elbow strikes are extremely effective. You can either deliver an elbow strike directly, or indirectly. Directly means that your opponent is hit with your forearm. However, indirectly means that your elbow strike is delivered with another part or your arm.
Hands
Boxers use the power of their hands to block any incoming blows. To do so, they raise their fists above their head and move them towards the direction of the attack. Then they make contact with the attacker’s fist.
Knees
To absorb the impact of a punch to the stomach, abdomen, or chest, boxers should bend their knees. Defense purposes are often served by knee strikes.
Feet
If he is being attacked, a boxer must take a step back and counter-attack. This allows him to put distance between himself, his opponent, and the ring. Also, boxers must maintain their balance while delivering counter-attacks.
Stances
In order to box effectively, a boxer needs to establish a stance. The way he defends him will be dictated by his stance. It dictates how he places his body and faces his opponent. There are many positions that boxers can adopt. These are the most popular:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
Body Movement
To win a fight, a fighter must move around the opponent. This means changing your speed, position and rhythm.
Rotation
Boxers rotate their arms when they throw a punch. You can rotate at different speeds depending upon the punch.
Combinations
Timing of each punch is crucial to the effectiveness of a combination. A combination that is effective starts with a strong punch, and ends with one that is weak.
Spare parts
Sparring is an exercise session to improve boxing skills. Sparring is a training session that helps a boxer train his mind and body. The purpose of sparring is, in short, to learn how fight and not get hurt.
Learning to box takes dedication and patience. To become a better boxer, you must train hard and for a long time.
