YouTubers vs. TikTokers explained

Fight Name:YouTubers vs. TikTokers
Location:Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Fighter1:Austin McBroom
Nickname1:The Face of ACE
Record1:0–0
Hometown1:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height1:5feet
Weight1:172lb
Style1:Southpaw
Fighter2:Bryce Hall
Nickname2:The Self-Proclaimed Bad Boy of Sway
Record2:0–0
Hometown2:Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S.
Height2:5feet
Weight2:165.4lb
Style2:Orthodox
Result:McBroom defeated Hall via round 3

YouTubers vs. TikTokers, billed as Battle of the Platforms was an exhibition boxing event which featured YouTubers and TikTokers. The main event was between American YouTuber Austin McBroom and American TikToker Bryce Hall. The co-main event was between YouTuber AnEsonGib and TikToker Tayler Holder. It was held on June 12, 2021, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

In the main event, Austin McBroom defeated Bryce Hall via technical knockout in the third round. In the co-main event, AnEsonGib defeated Tayler Holder via unanimous decision. Overall, Team YouTube defeated Team TikTok 6–1.

The event was promoted as the Battle of the Platforms by Social Gloves. The first two undercard matches were broadcast free of charge on social-media sites, and the pay-per-view was broadcast on LiveXLive.[1] [2]

The event sold 135,000 PPV buys, but was a commercial failure because it cost $20 million to produce but only generated between $6.5 million to $10 million in revenue.[3]

Background

McBroom feuded on Twitter with TikToker Bryce Hall in early March 2021, and a match was booked between them. On March 18, LiveXLive announced a full card of YouTubers vs. TikTokers in which YouTuber Tanner Fox was scheduled to face Nick Austin and YouTuber FaZe Jarvis was scheduled to face TikToker Micheal Le.[4] The third fight was between YouTuber and rapper DDG and TikToker Nate Wyatt. In the third fight, TikToker Tayler Holder was scheduled to face a YouTuber chosen by fans; YouTuber Danny Duncan was also scheduled to face a random TikToker chosen by fans for the fourth fight. The semi-main event was between British YouTuber Deji and TikToker Vinnie Hacker. A majority of fans chose AnEsonGib in the fight against Tayler Holder. TikToker Nick Austin later left the event, and was replaced by Ryland Storms. YouTuber Danny Duncan also left, and was replaced by Ryan Johnston. TikToker Cale Saurage was added to the card.

Press conference

The YouTube and TikTok boxers had their first press conference on May 18, which was hosted by YouTubers Keemstar and FouseyTube.[5] Near the end of the press conference, a fight between McBroom and Hall broke out on stage.[6] [7]

Weigh-in

Before the weigh-in began, there was an altercation backstage between Fousey and Deji,[8] who was noticeably unfit in comparison to the other fighters.[9] The weigh-in, also hosted by Keemstar and Fousey, was held on June 11 in Miami. Austin McBroom weighed 172 lb (78 kg), and Bryce Hallweighed 165.4 lb (75 kg). For the co-main event, AnEsonGib weighed 179 lb (81 kg); Tayler Holder weighed 175 lb (79 kg).[10] [11]

Fight card

vs.MethodRoundTime
Austin McBroom def.3/51:45
AnEsonGib def.Tayler Holder 5
Vinnie Hacker def.Deji Olatunji 3/51:16
def.Nate Wyatt 5
FaZe Jarvis def.Michael Le 2/50:14
Landon McBroom def.Ben Azelart 2/51:30
Ryan Johnston def.Cale Saurage 5/51:07

Broadcast

The event was a pay-per-view broadcast on LiveXLive. Fousey was the ring announcer for the fights, except for the main event. It featured performances by DJ Khaled, Lil Baby, Migos and Trippie Redd.[12] The first two fights on the undercard, Ryan Johnston vs. Cale Saurage and Landon McBroom vs Ben Azelart, were broadcast free of charge on YouTube. A pay-per-view image would show in the screen, blocking the person watching the main card for free.

Controversies

Investor return and fighter pay controversy

Two months after the event, in August 2021, it was reported that the event had been a financial flop, and that investors and some of the fighters had not been paid their contractual amounts, sparking a series of lawsuits between Austin McBroom and event promoter LivexLive,[13] as well as a lawsuit by Tayler Holder and Nate Wyatt against Austin McBroom for failing to compensate the event participants[14]

As of February 2022, both lawsuits had been settled out of court.[15]

Storms–Fox controversy

After Tanner Fox and Ryland Storms had their weigh-in one day before the fight, Storms claimed that Fox pulled out of the match because of their weight difference. On the Social Gloves live stream, it was announced that Fox had pulled out.[16] At ringside, ring announcer Fousey interviewed Fox. Fox criticized Storms and said that he was willing to fight, but the commission would not allow it.[17] [18] [19]

AnEsonGib–Holder controversy

After AnEsonGib and Tayler Holder's bout, Fousey announced that the match was a majority draw; the official scorecard was 49–46, 49-46 and 50–46. Based on the scorecard, it could only have been a unanimous or split decision in favour of one of the fighters. Although Fousey was blamed by many, he disagreed with the results and said that AnEsonGib should have won. Based on the punch statistics, AnEsonGib fared substantially better and led many fans to wonder if there was a mistake or the fight was rigged.[20] During the post-fight interview, AnEsonGib said that he was "robbed"; Holder also disagreed with the result, saying that he should have won.[21] According to Holder, AnEsonGib weighed more than the agreed-upon limit; this forced Holder to artificially inflate his weight, presumably with weights in his pocket.[22]

On June 14, ISKA director Tom Sconzo released a statement overturning the result and giving the victory to AnEsonGib by unanimous decision.[23] According to Sconzo, the mistake was a "plain simple human error".

Notes and References

  1. News: Trent. Rachel. June 12, 2021. Boxing, influencers and NFTs share the stage as YouTubers and TikTokers fight in Battle of the Platforms. CNN. live. June 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210612230205/https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/12/us/youtube-vs-tiktok-fight-trnd/index.html. June 12, 2021.
  2. Web site: Haasch. Palmer. March 19, 2021. TikTok stars are fighting YouTubers in a 'Battle of the Platforms' as the influencer-boxing boom continues. live. https://archive.today/20210612233021/https://www.insider.com/youtube-vs-tiktok-boxing-fight-bryce-hall-austin-mcbroom-2021-3. June 12, 2021. May 20, 2021. Insider.
  3. Web site: 2021-07-21 . 'Battle Of The Platforms' Boxing Event Reportedly Lost $10 Million As Fighters, Investors, Producers Seek Payment . 2023-03-27 . Tubefilter . en-US.
  4. Web site: Schnell . Mallory . June 11, 2021 . Michael Le, a TikToker from West Palm Beach, to participate in fight card of dueling social media platforms . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612225648/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fl-sp-west-palm-beach-local-tiktok-fight-20210611-bogit6nisvhkvidgwj22cx362e-story.html . June 12, 2021 . June 12, 2021 . Sun-Sentinel.
  5. Web site: Whateley . Dan . Perlberg . Steven . June 2, 2021 . An influencer boxing event pitting TikTokers against YouTubers has received a cease and desist email, apparently from TikTok's parent company . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612235457/https://www.businessinsider.com/livexlive-appears-to-receive-cease-and-desist-from-tiktok-for-boxing-event-2021-6 . June 12, 2021 . Business Insider.
  6. Web site: Langmann . Brady . June 10, 2021 . "I Would Whoop Jake Paul's Ass": Inside the Beef-Filled Battle for Boxing's Soul . . Austin McBroom and Bryce Hall fight onstage during a Social Gloves: Battle of the Platforms press conference on May 18, 2021 in Los Angeles..
  7. Web site: Arlauckas . Dane . May 20, 2021 . YouTubers vs Tiktokers boxing date: who is fighting and when? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613035752/https://en.as.com/en/2021/05/20/other_sports/1621537998_919919.html . June 13, 2021 . June 12, 2021 . Diario AS.
  8. Web site: June 12, 2021 . Deji and Fousey have heated backstage altercation at YouTube vs TikTok weigh-in . June 12, 2021 . GiveMeSport . en-GB.
  9. News: June 11, 2021. YouTube vs TikTok Boxing: Social media shocked by Deji's physique during weigh-in. June 11, 2021.
  10. Web site: June 10, 2021 . YouTube vs TikTok Boxing: AnEsonGib shows off impressive physique ahead of Taylor Holder fight . June 12, 2021 . GiveMeSport . en-GB.
  11. Web site: June 11, 2021 . YouTube vs TikTok Boxing: Social media stunned by Deji's physique during weigh-in . June 12, 2021 . GiveMeSport . en-GB.
  12. Chan . Tim . June 12, 2021 . DJ Khaled, Lil Baby, Migos to Perform at 'Social Gloves: Battle of the Platforms' Fight This Weekend . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612230004/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/9585669/watch-bryce-hall-vs-austin-mcbroom-social-gloves-fight-online . June 12, 2021 . June 12, 2021 . Billboard.
  13. Web site: 2021-08-21. Austin McBroom Still Hasn’t Paid The Investors And Fighters Of Social Gloves. 2024-04-05. Forbes. en-GB.
  14. Web site: 2021-08-09. Tayler Holder reveals why he’s suing Austin McBroom over TikTokers vs YouTubers boxing event. 2024-04-05. Dexerto. en-GB.
  15. Web site: 2022-02-16. Austin McBroom finally resolves Social Gloves lawsuit with $3 million settlement . 2024-04-05. Dexerto. en-GB.
  16. Web site: Sherwin. Collin. June 12, 2021. Full list of winners and stoppages from YouTubers vs. TikTokers on June 12 [VIDEO]]. DraftKings Nation. en. Tanner Fox vs Ryland Storms — cancelled due to 18 pound weight difference.
  17. The Goat media (pasting Tanner Fox's live-stream, June 12, 2021) Tanner Fox explained why he can fight Ryland Storms after the weight in YouTube vs TikTok. Viewed June 27, 2021.
  18. Tanner Fox (June 21, 2021), Things got weird in Miami. Best viewed from about t+5m50s. Viewed June 27, 2021.
  19. Spilling Tea (pasting Tanner Fox's TikTok footage, June 12, 2021). Tanner Fox explains why he didn't fight Ryland (YouTube), viewed Sept 25, 2021
  20. Web site: YouTube vs. TikTok fight results: Austin McBroom TKO's Bryce Hall, AnEsonGib gets robbed. 2021-06-13. www.sportingnews.com. June 13, 2021 . en-au.
  21. Web site: 2021-06-13. YouTube vs TikTok: People react to the AnEsonGib and Tayler Holder draw. 2021-07-05. The Focus. en-GB.
  22. Web site: 2021-06-13. Tanner Fox claims Tayler Holder & Gib hid huge weight difference that nearly stopped their fight. 2021-06-27. Dexerto. en.
  23. Web site: 2021-06-15. Governing body hands AnEsonGib victory following YouTube vs TikTok Boxing event. 2021-07-05. GiveMeSport. en-GB.