KSI and Logan Paul's friendship timeline: Here's how two rivals turned out to become business partners and pals
CLEVELAND, OHIO: Logan Paul and KSI are two of the most well-known figures in combat sports influencer boxing, and social media in general.
Originating as YouTubers, Paul and KSI leveraged their substantial fan bases to venture into boxing, achieving success with pay-per-view events.
Though they began as adversaries, KSI and Logan have evolved significantly, transitioning from being rivals to establishing a friendship and eventually becoming business partners.
Logan Paul and KSI's friendship explained
Originally marked by intense competition, the relationship between Logan Paul and KSI took a turn when Jake Paul, Logan's younger brother, received a boxing challenge from KSI in 2018, as per Essentially Sports.
Recognizing Jake's limited experience at the time, Logan decided to step in on his brother's behalf. The two engaged in both amateur and professional boxing matches.
KSI and Logan's first encounter ended in a draw, while the second, a hard-fought battle, resulted in a split decision favoring KSI.
Following the loss, Logan praised his opponent, KSI, emphasizing that the pre-fight animosity was for show, and he held no genuine ill will.
In 2021, he extended an olive branch by inviting KSI to his 'IMPAULSIVE' podcast.
The invitation was warmly accepted, fostering a much friendlier exchange between Logan and KSI.
Collaborating on a Sidemen YouTube video that month, the duo reportedly hinted at a trilogy fight by the end of 2021, ultimately serving as a buildup for a major announcement—the launch of PRIME.
As the official drink of the UFC and part of an exclusive multi-year deal with FC Bayern Munich, featuring the beverage exclusively in the Allianz Arena on match days, the dynamic duo actively promoted the energy drink.
This generated significant excitement, paving the way for numerous additional partnerships.
Logan Paul's take on Prime energy drink sparking health concerns
Despite being marketed towards children, several experts have stated that the high caffeine concentration in Prime Energy drinks makes it harmful for children to consume.
On November 10, Logan opened up to ABC News' Eva Pilgrim about these allegations. The YouTuber asserted that the majority of his Instagram followers are older than 18 based on his account's statistics.
Logan said, “That’s such a heavy claim. But I want to dive into it. You know, we are a social media-first company. The good thing about social media is there’s data, right? There’s analytics."
He continued, "90% of my audience is above the age of 18. 93% of Prime’s audience is above the age of 18, according to Instagram’s analytics."
He proceeded to counsel parents to "be smart" regarding the foods they offer their children. Emphasizing that caffeine exposure is typically not recommended for individuals under the age of 18, he urged parents to be cautious.