British cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley is setting his sights on emulating Ryan Garcia by becoming the second 'YouTube world champion' in boxing, following Garcia's recent WBC title triumph. Riley, who forged his reputation by training social media star KSI for fights against Logan Paul, is now embracing his digital roots while establishing himself as one of Britain's top fighters through his partnership with Misfits ProSport.
From Social Media Trainer to Title Contender
Viddal Riley initially gained recognition in the boxing world not for his own amateur pedigree, but for his role as trainer to YouTube sensation KSI during high-profile bouts with Logan Paul. However, he has since carved out his own path, capturing the British cruiserweight title last year and now preparing for a European title shot against Mateusz Masternak in April. This fight will take place on the undercard of Derek Chisora's clash with Deontay Wilder, marking a significant step in Riley's professional journey.
Embracing the YouTube Boxing Legacy
Riley acknowledges Ryan Garcia's unique position as what he calls "the first YouTuber boxing world champion," noting Garcia's extensive amateur background combined with his massive online following. "He has a crazy amount of followers, wasn't taken seriously and now he's a WBC world champion," Riley stated. "So I think it's fair to say that Ryan Garcia is the first streamer/YouTuber boxing world champion and I think in due time I'll probably be the second because I always feel like it's me and Ryan that do similar things."
This perspective marks a shift for Riley, who previously tried to distance himself from his social media associations. "I felt like I was trying to prove a point," he admitted. "I couldn't shake the fact I spent time with KSI and Jake Paul and Logan Paul and it's like people just wouldn't let it go. It was just like a stain like you couldn't get rid of and instead of trying to always squeeze into a room where you don't feel like you're fitting in, a room was created for me."
Finding a Home with Misfits Pro
That "room" is Misfits Pro, the professional arm of the social media boxing company founded by KSI, where Riley has become the face of the organization. His initial reluctance gave way to acceptance as he recognized the synergy between his traditional boxing ambitions and his digital background. "The first thing when MF Pro came to me, I said no I'm not doing it," Riley revealed. "Do you know how hard I've worked to not be looked at in this way? I'm not doing it, but now it feels like the perfect place for me."
He elaborated on this transformation: "It's so hard to explain but I guess from having the amateur career that I had and then somehow ending up in the YouTube world with KSI, with all these names right, still wanting to be a traditional boxer, still follow my lifelong goal and then for basically based on the success of that period where I merged in with them, we now can have a company like MF Pro has created. It's like the perfect synergy. There is no better place for me and my journey than MF Pro."
As Riley prepares for his European title challenge, he represents a new breed of fighter who bridges the gap between traditional boxing and digital entertainment, aiming to follow in Ryan Garcia's footsteps while carving his own unique legacy in the sport.
