BUCHAREST, ROMANIA: Andrew Tate, the controversial influencer, has received backing from his former sponsor, Daniel Knight. In a recent interview, Knight stated his belief that Tate is not misogynistic.
Tate has faced significant backlash due to his inflammatory remarks and his opinions about women, which numerous online users have labeled as deeply misogynistic.
His ex-sponsor, however, has claimed that Tate deliberately makes provocative statements solely for the purpose of gaining attention and visibility online.
Daniel Knight claims Andrew Tate is not 'misogynistic'
In a recent interview, Knight, the founder of Sidekick Boxing and Tate's previous sponsor, was questioned about whether Tate had exhibited any chauvinistic behaviors in the initial stages of his career.
Responding to this inquiry, Knight remarked that he wouldn't classify Tate's actions as misogyny.
He indicated that Tate tended to be provocative and controversial but a significant portion of Tate's statements weren't genuinely held beliefs.
According to Knight, his past videos were primarily aimed at generating a reaction at the time, rather than reflecting his actual convictions.
Knight also mentioned that Tate cherishes women and is reciprocally appreciated by them, suggesting that the Tate's current online persona might be exaggerated.
Knight told Sportskeeda, "Not misogyny, I wouldn't say. I would say Andrew Tate would be controversial towards anyone... A lot of it, I don't think he really believed it. It was just videos at the time, just to cause a bit of an uproar... He loves women, women love him. It's all a little blown up."
Daniel Knight claims Andrew Tate gives controversial opinions for clout
Furthermore, Knight also delved into the scope of Tate's influence on the younger generation and his ongoing legal feud.
While discussing the legal dispute involving Tate in Romania, encompassing charges related to assault, human trafficking, and orchestrating a criminal syndicate for the exploitation of women, Knight adamantly asserted that the former kickboxer just wants the attention.
He expressed his belief that Tate fancies himself as an actor, even suggesting that he possesses the potential to thrive in Hollywood.
Recalling past instances, Knight highlighted how Tate used to install a camera within his own living space, launching into impassioned rants on various subjects solely to amass online views.
Knight remarked, "I think he can be like an actor. To be honest I think he should be in Hollywood. What he says on camera doesn't mean what he [believes] in person. If you bring it back, he literally used to set up a camera in his own room and start ranting about for views."
Andrew Tate could have posed a threat to Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira
Knight wasn't finished as he proceeded to suggest that Tate could have posed a significant challenge to competitors like Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.
Tate embarked on his professional kickboxing journey in 2007, amassing a record of 76 victories and 9 defeats. Impressively, 23 of these wins were secured through knockout or technical knockout (TKO) finishes.
Throughout his career, Tate engaged in battles within both the cruiserweight category (181 lbs to 191 lbs) and the light heavyweight division (205 lbs), clinching an impressive collection of four distinguished kickboxing world titles along the way.
In Knight's opinion, Tate would have held his ground against any opponent within his weight division.
Emphasizing Tate's prowess, Knight elaborated that as a cruiserweight, Tate's capabilities would have transcended challenges thrown his way in the ring.
Tate's unconventional style presented a unique challenge; even those who advocated for Thai boxing, often considered superior, found themselves grappling with difficulties when faced with the unorthodox approach employed by Tate.
Knight said, "I think he would hold his own against anyone in his weight division. As a cruiserweight, I think Andrew Tate would do well against anyone."
"Styles make fights, and Tate's style was very awkward. There's a lot of Thai boxers, they claim to be the better style of kickboxing; But when they went up against an Andrew Tate, they were in the deep end with him," he stated.
Pereira and the reigning UFC middleweight champion, Adesanya, emerge as two of the most prominent personalities who have effectively shifted from kickboxing to MMA.
Although Tate briefly forayed into MMA, securing a record of 2-1, enthusiasts of the sport have pondered over the hypothetical outcomes of potential clashes between the divisive influencer and formidable adversaries like Pereira and Adesanya.
