I went viral for STREET boxing and was threatened with guns.. now I’m signed to KSI and winning praise from world champs
DEEN THE GREAT has gone from fighting in the streets to becoming a star of KSI’s Misfits Boxing.
The American shot to fame on YouTube for challenging rivals to boxing matches in public.
They have become huge hits with one video of Deen boxing a Houston police officer in Texas reaching almost TWO MILLION views.
The internet sensation – who wrestled at school – was inspired into a social media career after seeing his friends rake it in.
Deen, 23, told SunSport: “I saw they were making $30,000 a month, I was like s***. Let me get some of that.
“They’re doing fake pranks so I just picked up a phone, started recording with my friends and fighting on the streets, it went viral.
“I kept doing the street s*** and it kept going viral and kept going viral, I fought three people at once, it went viral.
“I even fought a police officer and that’s what got me on the map.”
Deen started training when he was 17 and was discovered online by prankster FouseyTube.
So when KSI launched Misfits Boxing – a platform for crossover celebrity-style bouts – it was a no brainer for the brawler.
Deen said: “I started taking it serious when they got me on the big stage.”
The lightweight – real name Nurideen Shahid Shabazz – admitted fighting on the streets often drew threats.
He said: “It was hella dangerous, but I guess God was on my side.
“The whole point was it was guns down gloves up so people kind of got the memo.
“I did have a few people threaten me, but I don’t fear s***. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Deen is unbeaten in Misfits and returns in a rematch on Saturday against bitter rival Walid Sharks, who he knocked out in November.
But he is tempted by a switch to the professional game if the money is right having been supported by world champions.
Deen said: “S***, the influencer game is where the money is at.
“But if the pro game have some bread to throw, I know promoters have been asking me a lot of questions.
“A lot of them are interested so it’s going to be exciting to see. But if DAZN keep taking care of me, I’ll stick with DAZN and turn pro if there’s no one else to fight in the influencer scene, why not?
“I’m starting to get respect from the pros, Shakur Stevenson is showing love, Caleb Plant is showing love. All the pros are showing love.”