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via Imago

via Imago

One of the most unlikely matchups of this year is a few days away. YouTube sensation, Jake Paul, taking on former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, Ben Askren, is not a fight many fans or pundits would have predicted as a contest that would take place in 2021. 

However, the Paul brothers have taken the combat world by storm with the elder brother gunning for Floyd Mayweather and the younger brother facing off against a former Olympian.

The fighting community has bashed Paul for not being a ‘real fighter’. However, his chance to legitimize himself comes against a very accomplished martial artist and a wrestler who is definitely a ‘real fighter’. 

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Darren Till recently put out a Tweet saying, “If @Benaskren shoots for a double leg Saturday night & slams @jakepaul on his head. He won’t need to worry about his purse because welle set up a Go-Fund me for him.”

Funky’ responded to the same saying, “Thanks Darren you’re such a gentleman”.

The common consensus going into the fight is that Jake Paul will be at his most lethal in the first few rounds as he has knockout power and is the more experienced boxer. However, his heart and cardio have never been tested, and this is something ‘Funky’ could expose. Many believe that Askren’s best route to victory is to rough up the fight clinch as much as possible and dirty box. 

Ben Askren rubbishes Jake Paul’s recent claims 

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Ben Askren has predicted a seventh-round stoppage win over Paul, and this is in line with what most fans and pundits view as his best route to victory. The longer the fight goes on, the better the chance for Ben Askren. 

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Furthermore, in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Paul was asked if Askren potentially using any MMA moves concerned him. ‘The Problem Child’ stated that as per their agreement if ‘Funky’ Ben was to resort to any MMA moves, he would forfeit his purse for the fight. Askren tweeted that the statement was false.

Whilst Paul’s claim was false, it remains to be seen if Darren Till’s offer was legitimate.