By Jamie Fairley

Misfits boxing Qatar Supercard takes place tonight with the card featuring big names such as Anesongib, Slim Albaher and Deji. This event follows the world-renowned Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson, a card which gained 108 million viewers worldwide with both fighters earning a reported $20 million (£15.8m).

These statistics show the Rise of Influencer boxing as well-trained professional boxers are aiming for a place on these shows as the viewing figures of a misfit’s event can get more views especially within younger groups. Misfits boxing has a predominantly younger audience and a more social media driven audience than a traditional boxing card would.

Influencer boxing has sprung into mainstream popularity over recent years. Misfits boxing launched in 2022 as a partnership between internet personality Olajide Olatunji better known as KSI, Mams Taylor, Kalle Sauerland and Nisse Sauerland. The group launched misfits with an aim to propel the sport and tap into the market of influencer boxing with a huge first card announced for the 27th of August 2022 with KSI fighting both a professional boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda and well-known UK rapper Swarmz.

KSI at Qatar Supercard press conference (Juilian Finney via Gettyimages)

Anesongib (known as Gib) has grown to fame through his FIFA pack openings and witty personality. Since moving on from the gaming days Gib has put a focus on boxing as he would have his first professional bout against global superstar Jake Paul, falling short to Paul after a first round TKO. However, since the fight Gib has had three consecutive wins against Tayler Holder, Austin McBroom and Jarvis respectively as he aims to carry this form into his bout against Slim who is yet to be defeated.

Another of the more prominent fights on the card is KSI’s younger brother Deji vs Dawood Savage as this is Deji’s first fight Since May 2023 as it was dubbed ‘The return of Deji.’ Although on paper it seems this fight could be very one sided as Dawood is yet to pick up a victory from five fights with each ending by way of KO or TKO.

Deji in high spirits at Qatar Supercard press conference (Julian Finney via Gettyimages)

Youtuber Salt Papi is another name that’s set to attract attention to the card with his fight against King Kenny. Kenny has over two million subscribers on his personal youtube channel and is also a prominent member of the Beta Squad, a channel with over 10 million subscribers. Kenny has five wins and three losses picking up big wins against Faze Sensei and Adam Brooks. In the other corner, Salt Papi has five wins with four coming by KO.

The card starts tonight at 16:00 and takes place in Qatar. The middle east can be seen as the new home of boxing due to the large pay cheques causing many high drawing fights such as Fury vs Usyk, Fury vs Ngannou and Beterbiev vs Bivol. With the lowest purse from all these bouts being a reported $10 million (£8m).

Misfits Qatar The Supercard: The rise of influencer boxing