KSI, known for organizing high-profile boxing events, recently disclosed his attempt to arrange a significant bout with combat sports superstar Conor McGregor, hoping to mark McGregor`s return to the boxing ring.
The plan involved hosting the fight at Alcatraz Island near San Francisco. However, the Irish fighter ultimately passed on the proposal. McGregor had previously mentioned an Alcatraz offer back in March without specifically naming KSI as the potential opponent.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done,” McGregor said at the time. “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 McGregor`s decision, KSI stated he wasn`t given a definitive reason for the refusal but acknowledged the former two-division UFC champion has numerous activities currently occupying his time outside of combat sports.
“We had a fight set up and Conor said no,” KSI shared on the Misfits Boxing YouTube channel following a recent event. “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.”
There has been considerable speculation regarding McGregor`s future in fighting, particularly after he withdrew from a scheduled 2024 fight against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe. Since that fight fell through, McGregor`s focus has seemingly shifted towards his co-ownership role in BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) and his political aspirations, including a potential run for the presidency of Ireland.
UFC CEO Dana White has also expressed skepticism about McGregor`s return prospects, recently indicating he did not anticipate the 36-year-old competing “anytime soon.”
While uncertainty surrounds McGregor`s fighting career, KSI affirmed his commitment to returning to the ring, although a current injury will keep him sidelined for the immediate future.
He was previously set to fight Dillon Danis in March, but had to withdraw from that bout due to illness.
KSI now reveals he is suffering from a hand injury that requires surgery before he can properly prepare for his comeback.
“For me, I want to fight again,” KSI explained. “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.”
Marcus Blakely