Ahead of his debut under the Misfits Boxing banner this week, AnEsonGib says he won’t be accepting their belt if he wins.
‘Gib’ whose real name is Ali Al-Fakhri, faces Slim Albaher in one of the most anticipated match-ups in celebrity boxing on Thursday night in Qatar. It’s his long-awaited first Misfits outing after years of turning down their offers in favor of other promotions, including a fight with Jake Paul.
But he maintains a frosty relationship with the crossover boxing supremo, insisting that he has no interest in taking their super-middleweight title. Albaher has been champion since knocking out Salt Papi back in October of last year, and defends in a tough test against ‘Gib’.
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AnEsonGib vows to turn down Misfits Boxing title after Slim Albaher fight
Gib has made something of a career out of shutting down promotions on which he fights, starting with Social Gloves before moving on to Kingpyn. He was even the sole opponent that Paul faced during his brief run under Matchroom Boxing, which is run by Eddie Hearn.
And he now has set his sights on arguably the best influencer boxer still competing at the Misfits level in Albaher. The bout is headliner for the promotion’s first step into the Middle East, and is advertised as being for the New Yorker’s 168lb title.
“I’m going to destroy him,” he told Bloody Knockout in an exclusive chat. “The 7-0 champion is going down. “There’s no chance, he hasn’t got a hope in hell, he’s got an image in his head and now that he’s seen me in person it’s all changing.
“It doesn’t make sense in his mind so I can’t wait to take him out next week. Then who takes the belt? Why would I get the belt? I’m not fighting for no belt! Don’t give me the belt, I said it from the beginning don’t give me the belt!
“I said it when I entered Misfits, do not give me that belt, I don’t want the belt, it’s not for the belt. We’re fighting at 168lb. He won the belt at 165lb so it shouldn’t even be for a title!”
AnEsonGib opens up about relationship with Misfits Boxing boss Mams Taylor
Part of Gib’s insistence that he isn’t interested in a title is his belief that Misfits Boxing is not necessarily the future home for his talents. He has reportedly fielded a number of offers from around the world, and has on multiple previous occasions turned down the advances of their promoter Mams Taylor.
Asked about his relationship with the music and boxing supremo, who co-owns Misfits with KSI, Gib replied: “It’s fine, we had some problems in the past, they got resolved and yeah, happy fighter, happy life, right?”
As for why he hasn’t taken up the offer to fight under their banner yet, he shifted away from Taylor, adding: “I think that the Misfits roster isn’t too strong and this was the strongest option that they had, that’s what I think it is.”