JAKE PAUL is back in the ring TONIGHT for what is set to be the toughest fight of his boxing career.
The YouTube sensation, 24, faces former UFC star Ben Askren, 36, over eight rounds of boxing.
- DATE: Jake Paul vs Ben Askren takes place TONIGHT – Saturday, April 17.
- START TIME: The undercard begins at 2am UK time.
- RING WALK: the main event at around 5am UK time on Sunday morning.
- LIVE STREAM: Jake Paul vs Ben Askren will be broadcast live on Fite.TV and the Triller app. The event is available to purchase for $23.99 (£17.42) on Fite.TV.
- LIVE MUSIC: The big show will also feature musical performances by Justin Bieber, The Black Keys, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Diplo, Major Lazer and Mt. Westmore (Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too $hort and E-40).
- HUGE ODDS BOOST – GET JAKE PAUL TO WIN AT 25/1
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Who is fighting on the undercard?
- Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren (Cruiserweight)
- Regis Prograis vs. Ivan Redkach (Light welterweight)
- Steve Cunningham vs. Frank Mir (Heavyweight)
- Joe Fournier vs. Reykon (Light heavyweight)
- Junior Younan vs. Jeyson Minda (Super middleweight)
- Quinton Randall vs. William Jackson (Welterweight)
Stay up to date with every punch in our live blog…
- Chisanga Malata
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Jake Paul gave his official prediction for his clash with Ben Askren after their final face off.
He said: "I don't believe he makes it out of two rounds.
"Look at the guy, he has a beer belly so he clearly didn't take training camp seriously.
"We all did the talking and the entertainment s*** but now it's time to let the fists fly."
Jake Paul is predicting a second round knockout victoryCredit: Instagram @triller - Chisanga Malata
THE CHOSEN ONE WEIGH INS
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley reckons Ben Askren's unorthodox style will prove to be too much for Jake Paul to handle.
During an interview with MMA Fighting, 'The Chosen One' said of Askren: “He’s very hard to hit.
"I’ve sparred him, and he’s like a bully. Not in a bad way.
"He’s a guy that will grab your f*cking big toe and pull it away from the other ones in wrestling practice and think it’s funny."
He added: “That’s what Ben thrives on, being able to push you into situations you’re not used to being in.
“You’re definitely not conditioned to work your way through them.
"Then once you get there, you’re going to be tired. Your whole game plan, your whole strategy has to change.
“When he punches you and does creepy stuff, he’s like the Dennis Rodman of the sport.
"You can watch it and think it’s unorthodox, but then you get out there, and you can’t stop him.”
Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren are long-time training partners - Chisanga Malata
CIRCUS SHOW
Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren has admitted his showdown with Jake Paul is a 'circus' fight.
He tweeted: "People love fist fights. People love circuses. Hope you enjoy tonight."
- Chisanga Malata
UPSET
Ben Askren's Roufusport team-mate CM Punk has tipped the Olympian to surprise Jake Paul this morning.
The former WWE and UFC star told TMZ: "I think so, but I think it's easy to do, based on it's easy to sit on your couch and say that Ben isn't a striker.
"But he's a decelerated athlete at a very, very high level in two different sports.
"Mindset and mentally is a big thing when you're fighting and Ben has that in spades.
"Is Ben gonna come out there and look like Muhammad Ali? No, probably not. But Ben knows what it takes to win a fight.
"The skillset in boxing is different, the rules are different, so he's going to approach it to the best of his abilities so he can win that fight.
"And I know a lot of people are counting him out but I don't think people should be surprised if he wins."
CM Punk has tipped Ben Askren to upset Ben Askren - Chisanga Malata
FINAL SHOTS
Jake Paul didn't hold back after his final face-off with Ben Askren, saying: "I see a guy who's underestimating me.
I see a guy who is taking this as a joke and I see a guy who said, 'I have to take a s***' during the face-off.
"This is the last 24 hours we will all have to hear Ben Askren. This one means a lot for me, this one is for Shadow (Paul's bodyguard).
"I don't believe he makes it out of two rounds; look at the guy, he has a beer belly so he clearly didn't take training camp seriously.
"We all did the talking and the entertainment s*** but now it's time to let the fists fly."
Ben Askren and Jake Paul engage in a tense staredown during their final face-offCredit: Instagram @triller - Chisanga Malata
AWKAWRD
Jake Paul's ex-girlfriend Julia Rose will be ringside for his clash with Ben Askren after she corners Joe Fournier for his clash with Colombian musician Reykon.
But the model insists things won't be weird, telling US Weekly: “I don’t think it’s going to be awkward.
"I think at this point we should be able to coexist.
“Jake’s a businessman so I think, if anything, he’ll be able to respect this.
"For me, I can’t speak for Joe’s motives and I can’t speak for the press’ motives, but what I can say for myself is that this is a huge business opportunity for me."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Julia Rose (@its_juliaroseee)
- Chisanga Malata
BIG BUCKS FOR BEN
Ben Askren will pocket one of the biggest purses of his combat sports career for his clash with Jake Paul.
Funky is set to take home a whopping £350,000 for his professional boxing debut.
Paul, meanwhile, will take home a staggering £500,000 for his third professional fight.
Both men's overall purses, however, will be topped up by their respective cuts of pay-per-view sales.
PURSES
Ben Askren: £350,000 ($500,000)
Jake Paul: £500,000 ($690,000)
Ivan Redkach: £180,700 ($250,000)
Regis Prograis (£615,000) $850,000
Frank Mir: £253,000 ($350,000)
Steve Cunningham: £108,400 ($150,000)
Reykon: £58,000 ($80,000)
Joe Fournier £160,000 ($220,000)
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ben Askren (@benaskren)
- Chisanga Malata
STYLIN' AND PROFILIN'
WWE and wrestling legend Rick Flair has arrived at the Mercedes-Benz Arena ahead of the pay-per-view portion of the card.
No doubt the fans at the arena will starting wooing as soon as The Nature Boy comes up on the big screen.
- Chisanga Malata
ANOTHER PRELIM IN THE BOOKS
Junior Younani got the better of Jeyson Minda courtesy of a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the contest 78-71 in his favour.
- Chisanga Malata
STARS IN THE BUILDING
Snoop Dogg and Saweetie are in the building.
Snoop, of course, is set to provide some of tonight's musical entertainment with his rap super-group Mt. Westmore.
- Chisanga Malata
TALE OF THE TAPE
In case you haven't seen the pre-fight stats, here's how Jake Paul and Ben Askren compare ahead of their crossover fight.
How Jake Paul and Ben Askren compare ahead of their Atlanta showdown - Chisanga Malata
JOHN KAVANAGH WEIGHS IN
SBG Ireland chief John Kavanagh, the head coach of UFC superstar Conor McGregor, has tipped Ben Askren to upset the apple cart and stop Jake Paul.
- Chisanga Malata
DEEP WATERS
Ben Askren, 36, believes he'll stop Paul, telling ESPN: "TKO [in] round seven."
He added: "Because I don't have a huge amount of power. It'll take me some time to wear him down and make him hate his life.
"And then eventually he's gonna say, 'Hey look, I'm a rich celebrity.
"I don't need to get f–king punched anymore. I'm just gonna roll over.'"
- Chisanga Malata
PROBLEM CHILD'S PREDICTION
Despite only having two fights to his name, Jake Paul reckons Ben Askren won't land a glove on him.
He recently told ESPN: "Go Google Ben Askren's striking. Hahaha.
"It's not going to go that long, it's not going to go that long.
"I don't even think he'll hit me. I haven't been hit one time in the face in my past two fights.
"So I haven't even been punched as pro boxer one time. Nate Robinson landed one body shot in a clinch.
"I don't think Ben Askren will even hit me. That's my prediction."
- Chisanga Malata
RED DUTIES
Here's a look at the referee and judges' assignments for this morning's fights.
- Chisanga Malata
FIRST RESULT OF THE NIGHT
- Chisanga Malata
CONFIRMED START TIME
Ben Askren and Jake Paul will make their respective walks to the ring at 5:00am BST time.
- Chisanga Malata
'YOUTUBE B**B'
Even legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach – who Ben Askren trained with in the build-up to this morning's fight -is getting involved in the pre-fight trash talk.
Let's see if the Wild Card Gym owner is right at the final bell.
- Chisanga Malata
A QUICK GLIMPSE AT THE ARENA
The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Atlanta is ready for one of the biggest fights of the year.
Not long now until the spectators start filling it up.
- Chisanga Malata
LATE ADDITION TO THE CARD
Triller have announced a late addition to the Paul vs Askren card.
And it involves none other than WWE legend Rick Flair. Flair, 72, won't be boxing, however.
No, The Nature Boy will be the special guest referee for a a slapping match.
Yes, you read that correctly. A slapping match. As if this fight card couldn't get any weirder.
- Joe Brophy
JOR DROPPING
Ben Askren – who fights Jake Paul tonight – was on the wrong end of the fastest knockout in UFC history against Jorge Masvidal.
The welterweight pair fought at UFC 239 in July 2019 after a bitter build-up, but no one could have foreseen the dramatic early stoppage.
- Joe Brophy
FIGHTING TALK
Jake Paul has thrown down one of his final social media barbs before tonight's fight.
- Joe Brophy
WHAT HAVE THEY SAID?
Jake Paul: "You f****d up, Ben by taking this fight. April 17, I promised my team, my family, my brother who is there right next to you right now, I promise to make you go down as history as the world’s worst UFC fighter.
Ben Askren: "We haven’t seen anything.
"The level of his competition was so low that it was almost impossible to tell if he is actually good at this.
"If there is one thing people respect about all fighters it’s the toughness to deal with adversity in battle and we have not seen that out of him.
"I don’t think he was hit hard by either one of those guys. They were so incredibly terrible at boxing. So we haven’t seen anything out of him yet."
- Joe Brophy
JAKE OF ALL TRADES
Jake Paul is adamant Floyd Mayweather has 'lost his mind' after the legendary boxer challenged him to an exhibition fight.
He told TMZ: "This guy is out of his mind! He just calls me out, out of nowhere — same with 50 Cent!
"I mean, he hasn't even fought my brother yet. It just seems like he's losing his marbles … like what the f*** is this guy doing?!"
- Joe Brophy
PAUL TO PLAY FOR
Logan Paul mocked Ben Askren and said anyone who thinks the retired UFC welterweight will beat his brother Jake are 'f***ing morons'.
He said: "I get it, guys I like Ben Askren. We like him, he's a good guy, he's funny, he's entertaining, great personality.
"But if you think for one f***ing second, that this guy is going to beat my brother tomorrow, you're a f***ing moron.
"Straight up. Like y'all thought and afterwards everyone's going to be like, 'Oh, we should have seen it coming'.
"No s***. You're crazy."
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