BEVERLY HILLS, April 18, (THEWILL) –Â YouTuber-turned-boxer, Jake Paul, delivered his best Technical Knockout (TKO) victory so far, in the highly-publicised Triller Fight Club main event clash from inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, to dispatch another non-boxing challenger, the veteran Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Ben Askren in Round 1.
Paul, who is yet to take on a professional boxer in his brief boxing career, can now boast of owning a knockout victory over a professional fighter with his first-round TKO win over former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Askren.
The YouTube boxer began by working off a jab that he used to Askren’s head and body to good effect. Askren, who as an accomplished wrestler, was expected to give Paul his sternest test yet in the ring, did not rise up to the occasion. Rather, the successful mixed martial arts fighter looked stiff and slightly robotic as he tried to figure out a way inside on the younger, stronger and faster boxer.
Paul’s solid technique showed that he had improved as a boxer and Askren did not have the liberty to turn things into a dirtier fight other than the straight boxing match that he was not as accustomed to as Paul was. That was why when a crushing overhand right from Paul caught him straight in the face, he did not see it coming.
The blow sent Askren straight to the canvas and the referee immediately intervened. To his credit, he rose to his feet quickly and completely beat the count, but, the referee deemed Askren unable to continue and called the fight off at the 1:59 mark of the first round.
The decision by the referee sparked wild scenes of celebrations in Paul’s camp but was not welcomed by Askren, who visibly protested the stoppage. However, replays sided with the referee because, when he asked Askren to walk forward after the fighter got to his feet, he attempted to but only succeeded in moving sideways instead.
Later, Askren, who had gotten over the decision, was shown walking backstage smiling after the bout, apparently in good spirits after making half a million dollars in disclosed pay for the bout, which is a considerable sum for a bout that was just under two minutes.
As good a victory as it was for Paul, the budding boxer still needs to prove that he can compete against trained, professional boxers, rather than picking fights with the delicate options he has so far engaged, if he ever desires to be accorded the seriousness he desperately craves. After turning professional with a first round TKO of fellow YouTuber Ali Eson Gib, Paul brutally stopped former NBA star Nate Robinson in a viral knockout in his second bout.
Now, Paul can include another TKO against a former pro fighter to his record. Yet, it remains to be seen if he will look to continue trying to establish himself as a legitimate boxer or continue on a path that has been undeniably successful from a financial standpoint with cherry pickings of soft targets.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
