Jake Paul to fight Ben Askren in a boxing match as YouTube star goes to toe-to-toe against ex-UFC fighter Ben Askren

YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul will return to the ring to face former UFC fighter Ben Askren.

The pair will meet on April 17 in an eight-round bout with a venue to be decided.

Paul, who recently turned professional, will be looking to add to improve his current unbeaten record which reads 2-0.

Askren, while not a boxer, will be his toughest opponent yet due to his sporting background. The 36-year-old is known for his expert grappling in the UFC, he is not applauded so much for his ability to box. He held a 19-2 professional MMA record before he retired in November 2019 claiming he needed a hip replacement.

In the build-up to its announcement, this fight had been criticised by fans as they believe Paul is hiding from seasoned boxers. This is emphasised by the fact the 24-year-old knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson in his most recent bout.

But defending his record, Paul came out swinging as he gears up to fight Askren.

‘[Askren] has less losses on his record than Conor McGregor does yet I’m still going to knock him out faster than Jorge Masvidal did.

‘Some MMA guys think that because they throw punches they know how to box.

‘I shocked the world when I knocked out an NBA superstar athlete but still some people complained that he’s not a real fighter.

‘So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a real fighter.

‘After I add Ben to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say?’

By Evan Clem