KSI was left stunned after his opponent Tommy Fury was deducted a point before winning a majority decision at the Misfits event at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday night.
Fury, brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, remains undefeated as a professional boxer, with 10 wins in 10 fights, including four by knockout.
His victory was marred by a controversial points decision after landing 12 punches and 39 punches to KSI’s 38, as well as a one-point deduction for a rabbit punch.
KSI said immediately after the fight: “It’s a robbery, how many punches did he land? I’m the YouTuber, you’re the boxer, I understand, you have to win. I want to appeal.”
KSI, influencer, professional boxer and musician, drove off in a Lamborghini before taking out “Giggs” for a Talkin the Hardest performance.
“The Nightmare” threw a straight right hand in the first round, which seemingly stunned Fury in a noisy AO Arena before the 24-year-old grabbed the back of KSI’s head, much to his disgust .
Fury had a point taken away in the second round for another blow to the back of KSI’s head.
The Briton, who became famous on YouTube before taking up boxing, showed more endurance with a combination of uppercuts and overhead rights.
KSI was dodging and diving in the third as the larger Fury began to lean on his opponent, starting to find his range.
The fighters began to clinch repeatedly in the next, although both nearly unloaded with right hands before KSI got inside early in the fifth in a close encounter.
KSI then kept Fury at arm’s length throughout the final round and thought he had secured the shock victory as he celebrated in his corner.
However, the judges scored the cruiserweight bout 57-57 and 57-56 – by two of them – for Fury.
KSI won his only previous fight as a professional against Logan Paul. He has fought eight times in total, with five wins, one draw, one no contest and now one loss.
Watch Janibek Alimkhanuly v Vincenzo Gualtieri in the early hours of October 15, live on Sky Sports.