KSI vs Logan Paul

By: Lewis Harrad

The 21st Century has seen huge advancements in technology and a rapid increase in the users of social media to share anything from memories to sporting events. Nowhere has seen this more than the online video platform YouTube, where over 100 hours of video is uploaded every minute. A third of the world’s internet users are on this platform and the effect it has is astonishing. Some of the largest names in the celebrity, gaming, social industries all have accounts on YouTube and have made their multi-million fortune off uploading daily videos for others entertainment. People like PewDiePie have become icons in the YouTube history books and others had huge success in promoting their brand and their style to millions of users across the globe.

Most recently, the most viewed boxing match on both DAZN and in the world happened in which two Youtubers fought. The two in question were KSI and Logan Paul. KSI is a FIFA Youtuber and has also seen huge popularity in his reaction videos and music. Thanks to over 20 million subscribers, he made 3 million dollars in 2018 alone – it looks like being the largest celebrity and personality star in the United Kingdom has its perks. On the other side of the ring we had Logan Paul, vlogger and former Vine creator. Having visited all over the world with his camera and Maverick crew (including a visit to Dubai Mall in 2017), he has become one of the most popular and most influential under 30-year-olds in America. In the build up to the event, both sides were dedicating videos to mocking the other and tying to scare almost them into mistakes.

The reason as for the popularity of the fight does not fall down to one reason. As with the first KSI vs Logan Paul fight and even KSI vs Joe Weller, promotion through YouTube was the main reason for success. All three were responsible for the huge success that came out of the fact and it even proved critics wrong (they were anticipating much lower views and less revenue). Because KSI and Logan Paul had such large fanbases and the fact that millions of people view their videos every day, it was a recipe for success. Furthermore, through the help of DAZN in the USA and Sky in the UK, it offered the ability to watch the fight to many more that just YouTube alone. Regular viewers at home or even boxing enthusiasts could see firsthand the history that is being created. Even pro boxers were undercards to the main event! Leading on, Justin Bieber, rappers Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Wiz Khalifa, Tyron Woodley, Dan Bilzerian, Mike Tyson, Daniel Keem, as well as all the members of The Sidemen attended the event and countless other including KSI’s brother Deji, made videos about the buildup to the fight and their predictions.

YouTube has had a huge impact on the globe and its benefits are more obvious now than ever. The fact that something such as a boxing match could have such global significance and influence viewers and subscribers across the globe is a key take way in how powerful the internet has become and how much impact a person can have online. As with anything in the 21st Century however, YouTube is always evolving to try and keep up with change and make sure this amazing service stays around for many years to come.