DAZN & MISFITS BOXING ANNOUNCE MF & DAZN: X SERIES 002
27 August, 2022 – Following a series premiere this past weekend that saw tremendous viewership around the globe, DAZN Group, the global sports entertainment company, today unveils the second installment of its groundbreaking crossover MF & DAZN: X SERIES in partnership with social media megastar KSI and his promotional company Misfits Boxing, and in association with the Sauerland brothers, Wasserman Boxing and Proper Loud.
MF & DAZN: X SERIES 002, powered by Misfits Boxing, will take place on 15 October at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, and feature a thrilling main event between Hasim Rahman and Vitor Belfort with the co-main event freaturing British YouTuber Jamie Michael “Jay” Swingler and American actor and YouTuber Cherdleys.
The 15 October fight night will be available both live and on demand to all subscribers around the world on DAZN. Tickets details will be released soon. Visit MisfitsBoxing.com for more info.
Rahman Jr. started his professional debut in 2017. Hasim Rahman Jr has gone on to compete in over 100 amateur fights. After a blistering start to his professional career, producing TKO’s and not losing for four straight years, he set his eyes on Jake Paul. Now, he takes on a proven dangerman in combat sports and will look to produce a statement win. The son of the former two-time heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman, who unified the IBF, IBO, WBC and lineal titles before reclaiming his WBC World Heavyweight title five years later. After the disappointment from not being able to compete on a previous card, there will be no doubt that “Gold Blooded” Rahman Jr will be coming to shock the world and show his worth in the fight game.
Belfort is the former Brazilian MMA star who held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship whilst producing stunning highlight-reel finishes throughout 20 years in the organisation. Alongside his reputation as a finisher, that saw 18 out of 26 wins come via stoppage, he is also undefeated as a professional boxer. He returned to the ring in September 2021 when he stopped Evander Holyfield in the first round of their exhibition fight. Having fought at both Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, Belfort has beaten some of MMA’s greatest athletes including Randy Couture, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Luke Rockhold. He sits amongst some of the greatest finishers the UFC has seen with his 12 knockout wins.
Swingler first made his boxing debut on the undercard of KSI vs. Logal Paul in 2018, where he battled against AnEsonGib inside a sold-out Manchester Arena. On 15 October, he is determined to walk away with his first pro win and proof that his future in boxing remains bright. Outside of the ring, Swingler is known for making challenge, comedy, and prank videos on the channel TGFbro with Uncle Romell, as well as his own eponymous channel, collectively reaching 8 million subscribers worldwide across the two. He began his YouTube career when he was just 12-years-old, and while he briefly attended Halesowen College to study photography and film, he ultimately quit to pursue his cretaor career full-time.
Cherdleys is a professional funny-man who has worked with the likes of Comedy Central, Funny Or Die, and Adult swim. In his own words, “His own mother might be ashamed of him, but Cherdleys doesn’t care” – no topic is off limits, and he’s had success bringing the comedy heat. Now, he’s ready to put it all on the line to stand up for two things: America and Mustaches. When he steps into the ring against Jay Swingler, he’s going to bring the heat in another way. He thinks Swingler doesn’t stand a chance against Cherdley’s A-game. And even if he did, Cherdleys is going to bring his A, B, C and D …but mostly his C game…because he’s Cherdleys.
“We are thrilled to announce the second installment in the MF & DAZN: X Series; this series has spectacular growth potential in a thriving new category in the sport, and has already kicked off with a premiere event this past weekend featuring KSI in a doubleheader that well exceeded live worldwide viewership expectations on DAZN,” said Joseph Markowski, EVP at DAZN Group. “We are ready to further excite and entice a growing new generation of fight fans with the premium live sports action and best-in-class production synonymous with DAZN. This is a long-term and limitless endeavor with our partners that’s only just begun.”
Rahman said: “I’m really looking forward to fighting Mr.Belfort on Oct 15th. I’m extremely grateful to Misfits Boxing for giving me the opportunity and I look to make the most of it. I’m 100% focused on making a lasting impression on all the fans in England and those watching at home. Now the world gets to see why Fake Paul and his sister want absolutely nothing to do with getting in a ring with me!”
Belfort said: “I’m excited to showcase my skills on October 15 in Sheffield, live on DAZN! I have been waiting for a fight for a while, and now is my time. I’m always in the gym staying ready. Rahman is a perfect opponent for me, so expect fireworks in the return of the Phenom.”
President of Misfits Boxing and CEO of Proper Loud, Mams Taylor said: “We couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to proceedings than that huge event in the capital. It sets us up for another massive night, where the world will be watching Vitor Belfort and Hasim Rahman go at it. Misfits Boxing has landed, and we’re here to keep giving the fans what they deserve.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of promoting some huge fight nights, but our premiere event at the for Misfits Boxing was absolutely mind-blowing at the sold out O2,” said Kalle Sauerland, Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman Boxing. “We’re not standing still, we’re not stopping, we go again. We have a former UFC champion going up against a man who has boxing running through his veins. Belfort vs. Rahman Jr, plus another unbelievably stacked card heading your way; expect fireworks in Sheffield people!”
ABOUT DAZN
DAZN is the world’s leading sports entertainment platform. The only global digital sports broadcaster, DAZN is live in over 200 countries and is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialise, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com.
ABOUT KSI
A pioneering, YouTuber (fourth most followed channel for a British artist behind Ed Sheeran, One Direction and Adele) approaching 20 billion cumulative views, his 40.8 million subscribers know him as a creator, an artist, a mate who brings the passion (and the jokes) to whatever he does. He’s a businessman with a portfolio of interests, from owning his own music label, The Online Takeover and his own boxing promotions company, Misfits Boxing to one of the fastest growing beverages, his Prime Hydration drink (recently partnered with Arsenal FC) is set to surpass $140 million in revenue in its first year. As a performer and all-round entertainer, he can light up stages (Reading, TRNSMT, a Wembley headline) and screen: an upcoming documentary for Prime Video, produced by Louis Theroux, promises to lift the lid on the extraordinary life of the 29-year-old from Watford. And as a boxer, the amateur-turned-professional fighter is undefeated, with his last bout, against Logan Paul at Los Angeles Staples Centre in 2019, a global pay-per-view knockout. 27th August will mark his return to the ring when he steps out at London’s O2 to fight Alex Wassabi. As a musician with over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners, he’s also well-versed in coming out on top. His second album, summer 2021’s All Over the Place entered the charts at #1, an emphatic follow-up to the previous year’s debut, Dissimulation, a #2 hit which was the biggest selling debut album of 2020. In rapid succession there’s been a flurry of hits, on his own merits (making him the British Breakthrough Artist of 2020) and with others (Don’t Play with Anne-Marie, Lighter with Nathan Dawe), making for eight Top Ten singles in total. As prolific as he is innovative, KSI was the only artist to be nominated twice in the Song of the Year category at the 2022 Brit Awards. That’s KSI in 2022: in the ring and in the charts, he’s punching well above his weight. Get ready for his next knockout.
ABOUT MISFITS
Misfits Boxing is a new radical and revolutionary promotional partnership between megastar KSI, Proper Loud and Wasserman Boxing, coming to take over and make waves within the crossover boxing industry. The collaboration between Misfits Boxing and DAZN for the MF & DAZN: X Series is set to pave the way for the future of crossover boxing to provide the highest calibre of events within the genre, across the whole of the sports and entertainment industry. Stars from all corners of the globe and all formats of the entertainment world will be putting their will to the test, as Misfits Boxing guarantees the greatest crossover boxing spectacle the world has ever seen.
ABOUT PROPER LOUD
Proper Loud prides itself on having close relationships with its roster and taking the time to understand its artist’s individual needs and goals. Proper Loud’s mantra is to be recognized for their integrity, fairness and making great art. www.properloud.com
ABOUT WASSERMAN
Wasserman is a partner to the world’s most iconic brands, properties, and talent in their endeavours across sports, entertainment, and culture. Our purpose is to transform the businesses and careers of clients. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman operates globally in more than 20 cities, including London, New York, Toronto, Raleigh, Carlsbad, The Hague, Portland, and Shanghai. In 2021, Wasserman acquired Team Sauerland, one of the world’s leading boxing promoters, to form Wasserman Boxing, a new global force in the world of boxing. Learn more at TeamWass.com.
