He is known for filling up stadiums for his music concerts. But he found another passion for filling up arenas for celebrity boxing matches. His first fight was with Youtuber Slik Talk, which he won hands down.
But that was a warmup for his official fight with NaakMusiQ where he filled up the Sun City Sun Arena with more than 2000 guests during the pandemic.
Rapper Cassper Nyovest wasn’t happy with the outcome of his fight with NaakMusiq and says the win was unfair. But he doesn’t want to sound bitter, which is why he wanted a rematch. But NaakMusoQ turned down the rematch.
“Naak doesn’t want to fight again, we had to move on. We tried to make the rematch happen, we were very excited, and we had agreed on terms, but he came back and said he doesn’t want to fight again,” Cassper says.
“He got an ass whooping the last time. As much as judges say he won – which I think is funny. But if you go back and watch the fight, you will see how much punishment he got. So, I understand why he wouldn’t want t fight again,” he says.
“The contract also said, winner only by knockout. That's what we signed, they raised his hand but there was no knockout,” he adds.
“But it’s also a passion thing, I don’t think he has as much passion for the sport of boxing as I do. It's not something he gets fire from. He would rather end his story with he won because he knows the next time I go in the ring with him, I would knock him out, so I think it's smarter.”
But Cassper is in contact with Slik Talk for a potential rematch with him.
“He sends me messages now and then. He wants a rematch because he feels he didn’t have enough time to prepare. I was keen to do it, but my team feels it’s a waste of time and he is not of my caliber, but If the fans want to see it then I’ll do it. I would really fight anyone,” he says.
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This time, he plans to fill up Pretoria Sun Bet Arena against rapper Ricardo “Priddy Ugly” Moloi who told Drum he wants to finesse Cassper first and then knock him out.Cassper says his technique has improved since his match with NaakMusiq and he is a better fighter and there’s no way Priddy Ugly is winning.
“Experience is the best teacher. I am passionate about the sport, so I learn something new every time I step in the ring. With the experience I have, I watch my fight and see what I did wrong and where I need to improve in my training for the next fight. I don’t just hit the pads and hope for the best” he says.
“I am definitely in better shape in terms of fitness. I am also growing with the sense that I might be a better person, but I might beat myself by fighting the wrong fight. The experience, my fitness, and sticking to the plan is what will help me win,” he says.
He has made drastic lifestyle changes of quitting alcohol, and fruits and he gets enough sleep and eats well.
“I take care of my body and get enough hours of sleep to be in a healthy state.”
His strategy is to stay calm and pace himself.
“It’s very important for me to control myself and pace myself,” he says.
“I am fighting someone who is not as experienced and as skilled as me, the only thing on his side is that he has been fit for a long time. Priddy has a bit of power, but I should be able to knock him out on the third or fourth round or get him to quit.”
Cassper looks forward to the three-day celebration where there will be professional boxers and a live concert before the main celebrity fight.
“It would be great to perform in front of a sold-out crowd, and for people to see a quality fight at such a prestigious venue.”
Cassper says he has a lot more to lose than Priddy Ugly. “There’s a lot at stake. For him it’s a win, he gets more engagement than he has ever gotten because he will be on the main stage with the biggest artist in the country. He is also getting props for stepping in the ring. For me, people say I keep losing. So, I can’t lose again and start making excuses.”
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He recently announced that he lost the partnership with Supersport who had screened his previous fights. Cassper says it was out of his hands and the only way to see the fight is for people to attend on the day, but he will not be streaming it.
“They were supposed to be part of this. I was under the impression that they agreed when we announced the fight. They were not happy about certain things, for instance, the rematch with Naak which was not in my hands. Secondly, the fact that we announced without informing them and not putting them n the poster. There were just certain things they mentioned they were not happy about. They pulled out and some sponsors pulled out,” he says.
“So, the only way of seeing the fight is to buy a ticket,” he says.
After this fight, he still hopes that his long-term rival and rapper AKA would step up to the ring.
“I still maintain that AKA is scared. He would never fight me. This whole thing started with me and him. He has been running ever since. I didn’t want to fight with him when he was grieving. It wouldn’t have been right to fight someone mourning, but what’s his excuse now? When he was back in the game, he started talking smack again and I said let’s go and he doesn’t even say a word about it. He only says things to his friends when he is drunk. He is just scared.”
After a break form hosting his annual fill-up concerts, Cassper says he will return to a stadium near home this festive season.
"I will announce when the time is right but we are doing it big again. Fill-Up coming somewhere close to home this festive season," he adds.
