KSI didn’t hold back in stirring up controversy with former Chelsea star Wayne Bridge, as their boxing match was set.
During the recent Misfits boxing event, which saw MMA fighter Darren Till defeat Anthony Taylor, KSI confronted Bridge in the ring and quickly referenced a notorious scandal.
The YouTuber and influencer boxer taunted Bridge with an explicit chant about a past relationship of the ex-England player. Bridge, who is now married to Frankie Bridge from The Saturdays, had previously been in a relationship with French model Vanessa Perroncel during his time at Chelsea.
This relationship ended amidst rumours that his teammate John Terry had an affair with Perroncel, which she has denied. The scandal caused a rift between the Chelsea players and became fodder for taunts from opposing fans, a tactic KSI seemed eager to employ to unsettle his future opponent.
“Aren’t you the guy that let John Terry smash your ex? ” KSI challenged the 44 year old he’s due to fight on March 29.
Bridge retorted, “You want to go there straightaway do you? ” Unfazed, KSI asserted, “I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re known for,” before leading a chant of ‘Vanessa woah, Vanessa woah’.
The Arsenal supporter then led the crowd in the provocative chant about Bridge’s former partner. The situation escalated when Bridge, provoked by KSI’s taunts, pushed him, prompting security to intervene as Bridge sent a clear message: “You wanted it mate, you can get it.”
KSI’s chanting was echoed by some members of the crowd, but they were possibly outnumbered by the boos that filled the Manchester arena following the fight announcement. KSI, who had to withdraw from a scheduled bout in Dublin against Slim Albaher and Anthony Taylor in August due to injury, boasts a 4-1-1 professional boxing record.
However, he hasn’t stepped into the ring since October 2023, when he lost to Tommy Fury by unanimous decision. Bridge, known for his victory over Made in Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews in a 2018 Sport Relief charity match, has shown his prowess in the ring.
In January, KSI expressed interest in a matchup with Conor McGregor, sharing a mock promotional poster featuring himself and McGregor on social media with the caption: “Let’s make this happen @TheNotoriousMMA.”
Despite this call-out, after their fight was called off, Slim told Mirror Fighting that he sensed KSI’s lack of passion for boxing during their face-offs. “Even when I was with him in the face-offs, I feel like his heart wasn’t there,” Slim commented.
He warned that without a true commitment to boxing, the consequences could be dire. Slim remains open to fighting KSI if he decides to return, but otherwise, he plans to move forward with his career and pursue opportunities that will help him progress.