Before he became a viral sensation for expressing his often-misogynistic views on social media, Andrew Tate was an elite-level kickboxer who won four world titles.
The American, who grew up in Luton, first rose to prominence when he was kicked off the 17th season of Big Brother over a video that emerged of him hitting a woman in an exchange he has since called consensual.
As of late, the 35-year-old self-proclaimed trillionaire has become a viral star due to a combination of his wacky world views and extravagant lifestyle that anyone who uses TikTok may be familiar with.
Before his internet fame, though, Tate made to the final of a tournament called Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators in December 2012. However, he fell short in his bid to become the best 85kg kickboxer in the world.
The internet celebrity backed into the ropes after his opponent, Franci Grajš, threw a flurry of punches before following up with a flying knee that connected flush and left Tate asleep on the canvas.
‘Cobra’ claims this is the only time he has ever been knocked out and explained how he dealt with the most devasting loss of his career during a recent interview.
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“I’ve been knocked out cold once,” Tate said on The Fellas podcast.
“Only once in 87 fights, which is good for a career. I wouldn’t say it hurts. You don’t remember much, it’s much like a dream. You’re furious afterwards.”
In recent months, Tate has tried to use his newfound fame to secure a lucrative fight with Jake Paul, who is one of the biggest names in boxing right now after transitioning from YouTube to win five straight fights.
Tate’s views don’t sit well with ‘The Problem Child’ who is a champion of female athletes and helped Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano secure career-high paydays for their fight at Madison Square Garden earlier this year.
"Andrew’s Tate’s fans are all virgins, and they’re watching him to try get laid. But they’re going to get spit on and slapped by a girl, that’s what’s gonna happen,” Paul told his brother in the Impaulsive podcast.
The 25-year-old doesn’t believe Tate really wants to step back into fighting but is willing to take on the gobby TikTok star if he gets by his brother Logan, who is looking to box again after previously facing KSI and Floyd Mayweather.
“Andrew, if my brother doesn’t f*** you up, I will and it has to go down,” Paul added
“I don’t think he gets in the ring with one of us. I think it’s too big of a risk for him because he’s ‘alpha male’, right?
“That’s his whole entire thing. And when he loses – he will lose to either one of us he fights — his whole schtick and all the women will be like, ‘Yeah!’ and his whole schtick goes out the window.”
Jake is currently looking for his next opponent after withdrawals from Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr meant his August 6 event at Madison Square Garden was cancelled.
The former Disney actor has been linked to a fight with MMA legend Nate Diaz, whose current UFC contract is due to expire after his upcoming fight with Khamzat Chimaev on September 10.
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