YOUTUBE boxing star Deji has undergone an incredible TWO STONE weight loss thanks to a rigorous strength and conditioning regime.
The social media influencer weighed 14st 6lb the night he was beaten by TikToker Vinnie Hacker in July 2021 after being stopped on his feet.
Vinnie Hacker and Deji before their 2021 fight
YouTuber Deji before his last fight
But in August, at his fourth attempt, Deji finally won his first fight by beating American Fousey and did so after weighing 12st 2lb.
His transformation was evident not only in his body but also his skills as he dispatched of Fousey in three rounds, flooring him in the process.
And it has somehow landed him an unthinkable eight-round exhibition bout against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather on Sunday.
One of the men behind Deji’s stunning turnaround is S&C coach Leon Wills, who also works with his brother KSI and 6-0 pro boxer Viddal Riley.
And Wills, ahead of Deji’s fight with Mayweather in Dubai, admits it was not plane sailing when he linked up with the unconfident YouTuber.
Wills told SunSport: “When I first got him, I thought, ‘I don’t know if this guys up for it, I dunno if he’s got the drive or the motivation.’
“I didn’t know if he’d be able to swim in the deep waters that I was going to take him to, so that was the issue.
“But he knew that I was rating him, so he knew he had to give it his all and more than what he wanted to give it just to satisfy me.”
Wills started working with Deji, 25, in the last month before his eventual win over Fousey, 32, on KSI’s undercard.
It came following three consecutive losses, to the likes of Jake Paul, 25, and Alex Wassabi, 32, where fitness was perhaps his biggest downfall.
Wills said: “I wanted to make sure he had the engine and the mindset because when you come off three losses you’re down in the dumps.
“So I had to build him up mentally and rewire his mind basically, that was the main goal.
“I was going to his house, watching extra study with him, watching boxing, doing drills, repetition, repetition, repetition.”
When Wills got his hands on Deji, he realised it was time for tough love and revealed the secret to their success was simply hard work.
Floyd Mayweather vs Deji: RIng walk time, live stream, TV channel and STACKED undercard info
He said: “Deji has to do the non-negotiables. The push-ups, the abs, the runs. And then doing his boxing, it all builds up.
“With Deji, because he doesn’t come from an athletic background, he’s just been a YouTuber, on his computer sitting at home, I have to give him a more vigorous schedule than others athletes.
“With Viddal I can easily do three-four S&C sessions a week, with Deji it’s got to be five-six S&C sessions just to break the mould of what he’s had.
“I have to push him through a lot, it’s hard but it’s more of a mental thing now.”
In just Wills’ second fight with Deji, he prepares him to share the ring with one of boxing’s greatest alongside head trainer Daley Perales.
They travel to Dubai ahead of an exhibition with Mayweather, 45, at the Coca-Cola Arena knowing they have nothing to lose.
Wills said: “This is just an exhibition, it’s not a title fight.
“Deji will be the least experienced boxer to ever share the ring with a world champion, let alone Floyd.
“So for Deji it’s just a learning curve, go in there try new things, just learn, enjoy the moment and when you get out of here, go back into your YouTube boxing realm.”
YouTuber Fousey was beaten by Deji in three rounds
Coach Leon Wills poses next to Deji
Floyd Mayweather and Deji ahead of their exhibition
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a beginner begin boxing at home
Boxing is one of the oldest sports known to man. Boxing was first developed to train warriors against their enemies in ancient times. Boxing is still widely practised today. Boxing is not something you need to do in a gym. You only need a pair of gloves and some punching bags.
There are many local amateur boxing groups that you can join to train with professionals. Once you master basic punches & combinations, you will be ready for competition in tournaments.
How can I learn how to defend myself against boxing?
Boxing is one of the oldest martial arts known to man. Boxing is also one of most difficult sports to learn. You don’t just punch someone in the face and knock him out. You must know how to defend yourself from punches and kicks.
The first thing you need to do is find a boxing gym near you. After you have found a great place to train, you will need gloves and headgear. Gloves protect the hands while headgear protects the head. Shorts and a Tshirt are also required.
Once you’ve got all your equipment, you’ll need to warm up properly. Start off slowly and gradually work your way up to full speed. Once you feel comfortable, go for it and spar with another boxer. Do not worry if you make a mistake. Just try again until you nail it.
Where can I buy boxing gear?
Many online stores sell boxing equipment. Some of these include Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, and Sports Authority. Ross and TJ Maxx offer great deals on boxing gear at a fraction of the cost.
Quality boxing gear is what you should be looking for. You can consider Warrior, Golden Glove or Premier Boxing Champions.
Statistics
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
External Links
expertboxing.com
boxandflow.com
How To
Here are the Essential Skills of Boxing
How to box efficiently
Boxing is a popular sport. It involves two people who attempt to knock each other out of their heads. Each country has its own rules. There are generally three types of boxing: Amateur, Professional, and Olympic.
Amateur boxing may be done at school, college, and university. This type of boxing allows sparring without protection. Usually amateur boxing competitions consist of three rounds of five minutes each. Amateur boxing can be done in many styles, including Kickboxing and Muay Thai, Taekwondo or Karate, Judo, Wrestling, and Muay Thai.
Professional boxing is usually practiced in gyms, clubs or stadiums. They wear protective equipment such as mouthpiece, nose guard, shin guards, elbow pads, knee pads, waist belt and groin protector. Professional boxing competitions consist of six rounds lasting four minutes each. There are many styles to professional boxing.
Olympic boxing takes place at the Olympics. Boxers wear special protective gear, which must conform to international standards. Each round lasts three minutes and is made up of eight rounds. Olympic boxing can be divided into two types: Light Flyweight (Heavyweight) and Heavyweight (Light Flyweight).
These are the basic skills required to box.
- Techniques for punching
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Body movement
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spares
Punching Techniques
There are seven kinds of punches: Left Hook, Right Hook, Uppercut, Cross, Straight, Overhand and Underhand. Each punch comes with its own technique. Some punches require more strength than others. For example, an uppercut is a powerful punch. A straight punch on the other side requires less power, but is more effective than other punches.
There are many combinations of punches. These are combinations made up of several punches that can be used together to achieve one 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 so by using his arms, elbows and hands as well as his knees, knees and legs.
Legs
Boxers should use the legs to protect themselves against kicks. After receiving a kick, he will raise his leg and move away from the attacker. If the attack comes from the front, then he bends his knees to avoid being kicked on the side. However, if the attack comes from behind, he stands up straight and blocks the kick with his foot.
Elbows
Elbow strikes are very effective because they inflict much pain. An elbow strike can be delivered either directly or indirectly. Directly means you hit your opponent directly with your forearm. While indirectly, it means you hit him with another section of your arm.
Hands
Boxers use their hands to block incoming blows. Boxers use their hands to stop incoming punches. They raise their fists up above their heads and move towards the attack. Then, they touch the attacker’s hand.
Knees
When receiving a blow to the stomach, abdomen or chest, a boxer should bend his knees to absorb the impact. For defense purposes, knee strikes are common.
Feet
When attacked, a boxer should step back and deliver counter-attacks. This allows him to put distance between himself, his opponent, and the ring. Boxers should also keep their balance when counter-attacking.
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 stances available to boxers. Here are the most commonly used ones:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
Body Movement
In order to win a fight, a boxer must move around his opponent. This includes changing speed, position and rhythm.
Rotation
A boxer will rotate his arm when he is throwing a punch. Different types of punches require different speeds for the rotation.
Combinations
Timing of each punch is crucial to the effectiveness of a combination. A combination of strong and weak punches will produce a good result.
Spares
Sparring is a training session that improves boxing skills. During sparring sessions, a boxer trains his mind as well as his body. In conclusion, the purpose of sparring is to learn how to fight and not get hurt.
It is important to be patient and dedicated when learning how to box. To become a better boxer, you must train hard and for a long time.
