FIVE QUESTIONS GOING INTO JAKE PAUL VS. BEN ASKREN
YouTube personality Jake Paul and retired mixed martial artist Ben Askren are scheduled to fight one another Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta via live stream or traditional pay-per-view. Here are five questions going into the event.
No. 1 Can Jake Paul box?
No. And that’s not a knock on him. He isn’t bad for someone with no amateur experience and two professional fights against a fellow YouTube personality and a retired basketball player who had never laced on gloves. He’s simply like anyone just starting out: He has rudimentary skills at best. Boxing technique is something learned over years, not weeks or even months. To be fair to him, he’s strong and athletic, which doesn’t hurt. And he seems to take his training seriously. He’s working hard to develop his skills and maintain optimal fitness, which is something not all real fighters do. He’s trying. That said, his proclamations that he knows what he’s doing in the ring are largely garbage. No one with his level of experience does.
No. 2 Can Ben Askren box?
Not really. Askren is a former college and Olympic wrestler who became a mixed martial artist, ultimately winning multiple titles. However, Askren was never known as a striker, a fighter who relies on his boxing skills. He was better at grappling because of his wrestling background. That doesn’t mean he can’t box at all. He honed his striking throughout his decade-long MMA career, which gives him an edge over Paul. Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who worked with Askren for the fight on Saturday, was impressed with his conditioning, power and ability to finish off an opponent. Plus, Askren is a genuine fighter with experience engaging in battle under a spotlight. Paul’s previous two opponents weren’t.
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JAKE PAUL VS. BEN ASKREN: To watch the fight, go here.
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No. 3 Will Paul’s size advantage be a factor?
Maybe. The fighters agreed to a 190-pound catch weight (with a two-pound allowance) instead of the standard cruiserweight limit of 200. The 6-foot-1 Paul weighed in at 191¾ and 189 pounds for his two pro fights, respectively. And Askren, 5-10, fought at 170 pounds before he retired as a mixed martial artist in 2019. Askren has said he expects to weigh between 180 and 185 for the fight, which means it’s possible that he’ll be outweighed by around 10 pounds. That isn’t a huge difference in the cruiserweight division but it could be significant. At the same time, Askren is strong and well-conditioned. That could compensate for any weight disparity.
No. 4 Is this type of fight good for boxing?
That’s hard to say. One theory has it that Paul and Co. are bringing new, younger eyes to boxing because of their social media celebrity status. The next question is: Do these first-, second- or third-time viewers stick with the sport long term? Or do they watch only when these celebrities fight? I’ve neither seen nor heard of any data to suggest that these celebrity fights are increasing viewership but, of course, it’s possible. Another question I have is whether these events are drawing attention away from fights involving genuine boxers. For example, elite boxers Demetrius Andrade and Tony Harrison are fighting on separate cards tonight and everyone is talking about Paul-Askren. That bothers me.
No. 5 Who’s going to win?
Askren. This is actually a tough call, which is why Paul is only a slight favorite. Paul has some natural ability and that size advantage, which can’t hurt. And he seems to have some punching power. I won’t be shocked if he stops Askren. At the same time, the fact that Askren has been fighting in one form or another for a couple of decades is important. He isn’t a polished boxer but he’s a seasoned veteran of combat sports, one who knows what it is to go to war. He won’t be fazed whatsoever by the moment or whatever Paul brings. In other words, this seems to me to be a fight between a street tough and a genuine fighter. And the latter almost always wins such matchups. I think Askren is going to take whatever Paul delivers, break down the bigger man and then stop him.
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