KSI vs Wayne Bridge: Former footballer set to fight YouTube star in Misfits Boxing clash

Former footballer Wayne Bridge looks set to be the shock next opponent for KSI in the boxing ring.

The Daily Mail first reported on Saturday that the former Chelsea, Manchester City and England defender, 44, was being lined up to fight the influencer, YouTuber, musician and boxer on March 29.

KSI then called out Bridge during Saturday night’s X Series 20 Misfits card in Manchester, which was headlined by former UFC star Darren Till’s emphatic sixth-round knockout victory over Misfits’ reigning light-heavyweight champion Anthony Taylor - a replacement opponent for Tommy Fury.

Bridge entered the ring and went face-to-face with KSI, with a scuffle ensuing and the pair having to be separated after KSI taunted his rival.

Footage quickly circulated on social media of Bridge’s previous boxing experience in 2018, when he dominated a three-round charity bout against TV personality Spencer Matthews held in aid of Sport Relief.

Bridge had a 16-year football career that began at Southampton and included spells at Chelsea, with whom he won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, Manchester City and Reading, in addition to loan stints with Fulham, West Ham, Sunderland and Brighton.

He retired in 2014 after being released by Reading having been limited to just 12 appearances in his one season in Berkshire due to knee issues. Bridge also earned 36 senior England caps during his career, the last of which came in 2009.

He has been married to singer Frankie Bridge since 2016 and has also taken part in TV programmes such as I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Bridge would not be the first footballer to appear on a Misfits Boxing card, with former Manchester United, Newcastle and Leicester full-back Danny Simpson having fought to a split draw with YouTuber Danny Aarons at the X Series 17 event in Dublin last August.

The Sun have also reported recently that former Manchester United centre-back Wes Brown is also keen to get involved, having been training with Simpson. Wayne Rooney has also previously held talks with the Misfits promotion, of which KSI is the CEO.

KSI’s own boxing career saw him fight two amateur bouts against fellow YouTubers Joe Weller and Logan Paul, while he has since had six professional contests.

He beat Paul in a rematch of their initial draw before wins over Swarmz, Luis Alcaraz Pineda and FaZe Temperrr, but his controversial victory over Joe Fournier in May 2023 was later overturned to a no-contest.

KSI’s last outing came in October 2023, when he lost a decision to Tommy Fury. He was supposed to fight Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a 2v1 match last summer, only to withdraw through injury.