youtube personality jake paul is set to face an acutal fighter — former wrestler and mma star ben askren — for the first time saturday in atlanta.
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JAKE PAUL (2-0, 2 KOs) VS.
BEN ASKREN (debut)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VZlTCLPVEY
- Date: Saturday, April 17
- Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- TV/Stream: PPV and FITE
- Cost: Live stream on FITE.TV and TrillerFightClub.com, as well as traditional pay-per-view for $49.99.
- Division: Cruiserweight (eight rounds)
- At stake: No titles
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: Even (BetMGM)
- Also on the card: Regis Prograis vs. Ivan Redkach, junior welterweights; Steve Cunningham vs. Frank Mir, heavyweights
- Prediction: Askren KO 3
- Background: Paul, the YouTube personality who fancies himself a legitimate boxer, will take on his third consecutive opponent with no boxing experience. This one is a little different, though. Askren is a real, seasoned fighter, albeit as a mixed martial artist. The former amateur wrestler isn’t known for his striking but he has considerable experience in the octogen, where he enjoyed success. He won multiple titles and reportedly finished with a record of 19-2 (with one no-contest). To his credit, Paul seems to be taking his boxing career – such as it is – seriously. He reportedly trains hard and takes pride in his progress. We’ll see whether that’s enough to overcome a genuine warrior. In a real fight on the card, junior welterweight contender Regis Prograis (25-1, 21 KOs) will face Ivan Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Prograis rebounded from his majority decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2019, which cost him his world title, by stopping Juan Heraldez in three rounds last October. Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KOs) last fought in January of last year, when he lost a wide decision to Danny Garcia at 147 pounds.
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