Youtube Star Jake Paul is set to face former UFC fighter Ben Askren in a 8-round professional boxing match. The bout will take place on April 17th under Triller Fight Club and will be the main event. Location and venue are still unknown and will be aired on traditional PPV platforms. Triller founder Ryan Kavanaugh confirmed the news to ESPN.
Ben Askren to Box Jake Paul in April
The card itself is expected to be filled by familiar names in the boxing world, the social media world, and fighters from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Confirmed fighters on the card will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Jake Paul
Youtuber Jake Paul is considered to be one of most popular and polarizing internet personalities in the world. He is the younger brother of fellow internet star Logan Paul who is also preparing himself for a boxing match to face boxing veteran Floyd Mayweather.
This will be Paul’s third professional boxing match after defeating the likes of fellow Youtuber “AnEsonGib” and former NBA star Nate Robinson. Paul finished both fighters by Round 1 TKO and Round 2 KO respectfully. Shortly after, Paul announced through Twitter that the fight was official whilst stating that Askren had fewer losses than Conor McGregor but vowed to knock him out quicker than Jorge Masvidal who famously KO’d Askren with a flying knee in five seconds.
“Ben Askren is a two-time NCAA champion, a world champion in two different global mixed martial arts organizations and has less losses on his record than Conor McGregor,” Paul said.
“Me, on the other hand, I started boxing two years ago and I’m still going to knock his ass out faster than [Jorge] Masvidal. These MMA guys think because they throw punches they know how to box. The world complained because I knocked out a basketball player and not a real fighter. So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a ‘real fighter.’ After Ben Askren is added to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say? Thank you to Triller Fight Club for giving me the platform to once again put a man to sleep. April 17, it’s lights out for Askren.”
Ben Askren
On the other hand, this will be Askren’s first boxing match. He was a multiple world champion in MMA with championship belts in Bellator and One Championship and a record of 19-2. He was also a two-time NCAA division one wrestling champion. Askren retired from MMA in 2019 citing a hip injury, but had a successful hip replacement in August.
The American is still under contract with the UFC, who have allowed Askren to cross over into the boxing world. After starting his MMA career with a perfect 19-0 record, Ben Askren lost his last two fights against Masvidal by knockout and Demain Maia by submission in October 2019.
Match details
According to Kavanaugh, the bout will take place in a 20-by-20 ring with fighters competing in 10 ounce gloves. Weight class is still yet to be confirmed however sources say it may be between the 185-190 pound range.
“Triller took the opportunity to allow Jake and Triller fans to have their voice be heard for who Jake should fight,” Kavanagh said. “The overwhelming vote was Askren.”
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