KSI, known for organizing major boxing events, believed he was close to securing possibly the biggest fight yet, hoping to draw Conor McGregor back into the boxing ring.
The social media personality and now combat sports figure attempted to arrange the bout with McGregor at Alcatraz Island near San Francisco. However, the Irish icon ultimately declined the opportunity. McGregor himself had mentioned this potential fight earlier in March, without specifically naming KSI as the opponent, when discussing his possible return to action.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done,” McGregor stated. “There was an opportunity or a deal, we’ll say, to fight in Alcatraz only recent. There’s an event going on in Alcatraz in I believe June. And they came to me and it wasn’t my worth.”
Commenting on the proposed matchup, KSI stated he wasn`t definitively told why McGregor declined, but acknowledged that the former two-division UFC champion is currently involved in numerous non-fighting activities.
Speaking on the Misfits Boxing YouTube channel following their recent event, KSI quoted McGregor:
“We had a fight set up and Conor said no. I don’t know, it could be money, it could be his mindset. It could be a lot of reasons. Honestly, I don’t think he knows what he’s going to be doing the next day. He’s all over the place. One minute he wants to be the prime minister of Ireland, the next he wants to do a random side quest. Who cares. It is what it is. But let him do his thing. It is what it is. I’m going to just move on and do me.”
Significant uncertainty surrounds McGregor`s future in combat sports, particularly after his withdrawal from a planned 2024 fight against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe. Following the cancellation of that bout, McGregor has reportedly concentrated on co-owning and promoting BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) and pursuing his ambition to become the President of Ireland.
UFC CEO Dana White also expressed skepticism about McGregor`s return prospects, recently stating he doesn`t anticipate the 36-year-old competing again “anytime soon.”
While McGregor`s fighting future remains uncertain, KSI affirmed he is diligently working towards his own return to the ring, though an injury will keep him out of action for the time being.
He was previously scheduled to fight Dillon Danis in March but withdrew due to illness.
Now, KSI reports suffering a hand injury requiring surgery before he can properly prepare for his comeback.
“For me, I want to fight again,” KSI stated. “I just need to fix my hand. I’ve told my audience, I’ve told a lot of people, I can’t punch. Every time I push [my index finger] in, it hurts. I’ve had this injury for about a year. I’ve tried to fight through it, it just doesn’t work. I think for me now, I’m going to have surgery, get that sorted and then slowly get some rehab just to get it back to where it was again. Where I was knocking people out and then we can go from there and then we can have the big fights again. For right now, I think I’m going to be out for a bit.”
