Over the years, I’ve seen YouTubers and TikTokers do crazy things for fame, money, and attention. Out of all of their stunts, I’d have to say the most interesting thing I’ve seen is their journey to becoming boxers. Some influencers have gained massive popularity among new audiences as a result.
For some, stepping into the ring has become a chance to prove themselves beyond social media. For others, it’s another way to capitalize on online rivalries and attract millions of viewers eager to see who will come out victorious. The latest participants show just how much the industry has changed.
Logan and Jake Paul
Before influencer boxing became common, brothers Logan and Jake Paul were among YouTube’s biggest personalities. Both originally gained popularity on Vine before transitioning to YouTube, where their vlogs, challenges, and controversial personalities attracted millions of followers.
In August 2018, the brothers entered the boxing ring for the first time after a rivalry with British YouTubers KSI and Deji Olatunji. Logan Paul faced KSI in a match that ended in a draw, while Jake defeated Olatunji by technical knockout.
I originally knew the brothers through their YouTube content, especially songs like Jake Paul’s “It’s Everyday Bro.” While I didn’t regularly follow either of them, I started hearing their names more often once they started boxing. Their fights seemed to reach a completely different audience, including people like me who weren’t necessarily interested in boxing but were curious about the personalities involved.
Following the event, both brothers continued exploring boxing, though their careers took very different directions. Logan Paul faced KSI again in 2019 and later fought boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2021. Jake Paul pursued professional boxing more seriously, eventually facing opponents including Nate Robinson, Tommy Fury, and Mike Tyson. Though their success helped introduce a new form of entertainment, I didn’t see it coming!
Evelyn Ortiz and Yera
For Evelyn Ortiz, social media fame began before she stepped into a boxing ring. She and her twin sister, Wendolyn, known primarily as Wendy, started building their audience on YouTube and moved to TikTok, where content consisted of get-ready-with-me videos, lives, and collabs with other influencers.
Yera, the other boxer, started as a live streamer. She already had boxing experience, having previously defeated another influencer, Tessa Ortega, in August 2026. She’s also known for collaborating with other streamers.
On Oct. 16, Ortiz unexpectedly stepped into the ring at Brand Risk 16 after her sister couldn’t compete due to medical clearance requirements. The last-minute replacement brought additional attention to an already anticipated matchup.
Their fight demonstrated how quickly opportunities can emerge in influencer boxing. For Ortiz, a career built around lifestyle content led to a main-event appearance, while Yera used her growing livestreaming presence to establish herself as a returning competitor. Despite the change, Yera secured another victory by unanimous decision.
Ash Trevino and Bree Olsen
Ash Trevino, a Texas-based influencer, became widely known on TikTok for documenting her personal life, particularly her relationships with incarcerated men. Her unpredictable livestreams and ongoing disagreements with other creators helped turn her into one of social media’s biggest personalities.
Meanwhile, Brianna “Bree” Olsen built her following through modeling, fashion content, comedic videos, and relationship-related posts. With millions of followers on TikTok, Olsen already had an established audience before entering the boxing scene. Their ongoing feud online eventually became a real-life boxing match at Brand Risk 16, like Ortiz and Yera.
Leading up to the event, the two exchanged personal accusations and participated in heated confrontations, using the same tension that fueled their social media disagreements to promote the event and their own participation.
Beyond Social Media
While traditional boxers often spend years developing their skills before receiving widespread recognition, influencers enter the sport with established audiences and preexisting fame. Their popularity can create opportunities that many aspiring fighters spend their careers working toward. The industry has become a space where participation can be seen as internet personalities reinventing themselves or doing it to gain more clout.
Growing up with social media, I knew many of these personalities, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself part of their audience. It wasn’t until they started boxing that I began seeing their names everywhere. Creators I rarely kept up with suddenly appeared on my feed through fight announcements, press conferences, and match clips. Even without following them closely, I found myself knowing who was fighting and what led them to.
Seeing how much attention these fights have attracted, I can’t help but wonder how many more influencers will follow the same path. What started as an unexpected career move has become another way for internet personalities to expand their fan bases, and I don’t see this route disappearing anytime soon.
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