Look, I never thought I'd be writing about two social media personalities throwing hands in a boxing ring, but here we are in 2025. The world's gone absolutely mad.
I spent three hours last night going down a rabbit hole of Wakey Wines videos. My girlfriend walked in around midnight and just shook her head. "This is what you're doing with your journalism degree?" Fair point, love.
The Cornershop King vs TikTok's Problem Child
If you've somehow missed teh Wakey Wines phenomenon (lucky you), Azar Nazir is the charismatic Yorkshire shopkeeper who became internet famous during the great Prime drink hysteria of 2022. Remember that madness? People were literally driving 300 miles to spend £100 on sugary drinks because KSI's face was on them.
Nazir turned his Wakefield cornershop into a social media empire with over a million followers. Not bad for a bloke who basically just films people overpaying for energy drinks while shouting catchphrases.
His opponent? Mo Deen. God. Where to even start with this guy.
Mo burst onto the scene after an awkward encounter with WWE legend John Cena that went viral for all the wrong reasons. Cena basically told him to show some respect, which... clearly didn't sink in. He's since built a TikTok following of nearly 300K followers through what I can only describe as chaotic energy and controversy.
His boxing record? A dismal 0-1 after getting absolutely demolished by Vitaly at Misfits 13 back in March. The ref literally had to save him as he scrambled away from his opponent. Not exactly promising.
Wait... didn't someone throw hot dogs at this guy?
Yep. That actually happened.
Mo was supposed to fight conservative YouTuber Alex Stein in another Misfits event, but the fight got cancelled after Stein threw what he called "glizzies" (hot dogs) at Mo, who is Muslim. The whole thing was apparently a publicity stunt, with both later clarifying the hot dogs were made of turkey, not pork.
I've been covering combat sports for 7 years and I swear this influencer boxing scene makes traditional boxing look like a sophisticated chess match. It's like watching a car crash in slow motion - horrifying but I can't look away.
So When's This Circus Coming to Town?
The big showdown happens THIS FRIDAY, May 16th, as part of Misfits 21. The card's actually not terrible, with Darren Till vs Darren Stewart and Idris Virgo vs Ty Mitchell as co-main events.
Everything kicks off at 5pm at Vailant Live arena in Derby. No word yet on exactly when our social media sensations will make their ring walks, but I'd guess mid-card.
I'm actually considering driving up there. £75 for a press pass seems steep for what might be 90 seconds of actual fighting, but the people-watching alone might be worth it.
How to Watch This Beautiful Disaster
DAZN's got the broadcasting rights (of course they do). You can catch it on DAZN TV if your provider offers it, or stream it through their website or app.
Subscription options? Annual membership for £119.99, monthly for £14.99, or their "flexible" pass at £24.99 monthly that you can cancel whenever you come to your senses.
DAZN coverage starts at 7pm, though the event itself begins at 5pm. I assume they're skipping the really early prelims, which is probably for the best.
If you're too sensible to pay for this but still morbidly curious, The Sun will be live blogging the whole thing. That's what I did for teh Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz fight when my DAZN subscription mysteriously "failed" right before I had to pay.
The Beef Is... Apparently Real?
In an interview with Fred Talks Fighting, Mo Deen wasn't exactly diplomatic about his intentions:
"I'm going to hurt him, I pray to God, I want to hurt this guy. I've got beef with this guy for a long time. I'm gonna smoke this guy. He's ruined a lot of people's lives. I'm his karma."
Strong words from someone who literally ran away in his last fight.
Wakey Wines has been posting training videos that show... well, let's just say neither man is going to be challenging for a legitimate boxing title anytime soon. My 68-year-old uncle who boxes at the community center on weekends would probably handle both of them, adn he's had two hip replacements.
Will I watch this fight? Absolutely. Will I admit to watching it in public? Not a chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Boxing is a great way to keep fit.
Yes, boxing is an excellent way to improve overall fitness. It is a full body, high intensity workout that increases cardiovascular health, muscular endurance, coordination, and flexibility. It's also an excellent way to relieve stress. It will boost your confidence, as well as discipline.
What are the basic boxing punches?
The fundamental boxing strikes include the jab which is a quick, direct punch delivered using your lead arm; the cross which is a powerful punch delivered with your back hand; the hook that is a semi-circular blow aimed towards the side of an opponent's face or body; and finally the uppercut. This upward strike targets the underside of the opponent’s chin or their body.
How important is recovery in boxing training?
The recovery process is vital in boxing. It allows your body the opportunity to heal and get stronger. Recovery is aided by proper rest, stretching exercises, sufficient sleep, hydration as well as a nutritious and balanced diet. Ignoring recover can lead overtraining, injury and decreased performances.
Statistics
- Despite the stereotype that boxing is a young person's sport, approximately 20% of all beginners are over the age of 40.
- Approximately 50% of beginner boxers drop out within the first six months, highlighting the importance of sustaining motivation and setting realistic goals.
- Women are joining boxing in increasing numbers, rising by about 15% in the past decade, indicating growing gender diversity in the sport.
- Boxing has one of the lowest rates of injury compared to other contact sports, with approximately 1.1 injuries per 1,000 minutes of athletics.
- An analysis of boxing workouts demonstrates that participants can maintain a heart rate at 75-85% of their maximum, which is the optimal range for cardiovascular training.
- On average, beginners who undergo proper boxing training can expect to burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories per hour.
- Roughly 75% of beginners do not employ adequate defensive tactics in their first sparring sessions.
- Research indicates that nearly 70% of punches thrown by boxers during a match are jabs.
- Around 90% of boxers suffer a minor injury over the course of a year, with only 10-15% experiencing a moderate to severe injury.
- It is estimated that 60% of beginner boxers do not use the correct size gloves, which can increase the risk of injury.
External Links
How To
How to select the right boxing glove for beginners
Choosing the right boxing hand is crucial for your comfort and safety. As a starter, you'll want to choose gloves that have plenty of padding. Typically, they should be between 12oz-16oz. Choose gloves that are made from durable leather or synthetic material with a secure wrist clasp. Make sure they fit snugly when hand wraps are on. They should not be so tight as to cut off circulation, nor so loose that the gloves move during training.
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